Cytoarchitecture and myeloarchitecture of the sheep auditory cortex

The auditory cortex is central to auditory perception, but its detailed structural organization in sheep (Ovis aries) has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we sought to address this gap by providing an in-depth anatomical description of the cytoarchitecture and myeloarchitecture of the sheep auditory cortex, using cresyl violet staining and the neurochemical markers myelin basic protein and parvalbumin. Cresyl violet tissue samples from four sheep were used to characterize cortical layers and cellular composition, revealing a six-layered organization with variations in cell density and distribution. Myelin basic protein staining highlighted myelinated regions, while parvalbumin staining identified the distribution of a subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons, indicating the potential location of the primary auditory cortex. Overall, the organization of the ovine auditory cortex aligns with findings in other mammals, suggesting a conserved neural architecture across species and supporting the idea of evolutionary conservation in auditory processing mechanisms.