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To investigate the distribution and morphology of olivocochlear neurons of superior olivary complex in cats.Eight adult cats were divided into 2 groups randomly. Cholera toxin B subunit was injected to the left cochlea and fluoro-gold was injected to the right cochlea in the experimental group (n=5). Saline was injected to bilateral cochlea in the control group (n=3). Brainstem tissue was sectioned serially. All of the sections were immunohistochemically treated with ABC and stained with DAB, and then the labelled olivocochlear neurons were observed.The labelled olivocochlear neurons in the experimental group were 2 518 in total. Of them, the number of lateral olivocochlear (LOC) neurons was 1 738 (69.0%), mainly located in the middle of the pons, predominantly projected ipsilaterally. The total of medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons was 780 (31%), mainly located in dorsomedial periolivary nucleus, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body, mainly distributed in the rostral extent of the pons, predominantly projected contralaterally.In the distribution of olivocochlear neurons in cats, LOC neurons mainly project to the ipsilateral. While the projection of MOC neurons is predominantly contralateral, the distribution of MOC neurons is more adjacent to the rostral extent of the pons than LOC neurons.

To review the surgical treatment for reconstructing hypopharynx and cervical esophagus after hypopharyngo-oesophagectomy, and to evalue its efficacy.Different methods were adopted to reconstruct the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus among 25 cases, including 14 cases of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and 11 of carcinoma of hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. In accordance with the standard of the International Union Against Cancer in 1997, the 25 cases were divided into different clinic stages, among which 5 were in T(2)N(0), 2 in T(2)N(1), 4 in T(3)N(0), 3 in T(3)N(1), 7 in T(4)N(1) and 3 in T(4)N(2). Treatment protocol was as follow: Pure operation for 5 cases, re-operation after radiotherapy for 2 cases, operation plus radiotherapy for 18 cases, laryngeal conservation operation for 8, and neck dissection for 21 cases. Reconstruction was done by using free jejunal transplantation, gastric pull-up, the laryngotracheal flap, and myocutaneous flap.After the reconstruction, 3 cases of free jejunal graft and gastric pull-up, 4 of laryngotracheal flap recovered oral fleeding within 2 weeks. No serious complications occurred. After 18 cases underwent the myocutaneous flap reconstruction, no complications occurred in 10 patients, but there were different complications in 8 cases, including pharyngocutaneous fistula (6 cases), haryngoesphageal stenosis (7 cases), and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap necrotic (1 case). The 3-year survival rate was 38.9% (7/18).Reconstruction with free jejunal graft, gastric pull-up, and laryngotracheal flap constitutes is a safe and reliable method to restore the continuity of the upper digestive tract after pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy. After the reconstruction with myocutaneous flap, there is high incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula and haryngoesophageal stenosis.