[In utero demonstration of the functional activity of the auditory system of the fetus of guinea pigs by 14C 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography].

Pregnant guinea pigs injected with 2-DG between 10 to 2 days before birth, were exposed to loud free field pure tones (nine frequencies tested from 0.8 to 20 kHz). Specific bands of labeling were observed in the Inferior Colliculi of most of the fetuses whatever the frequency tested. The location of these isofrequency laminae shifted with stimulus frequency, their orientation were similar to those observed in the mothers. No such bands were found either in the control females or their fetuses. These results demonstrate that the auditory system of the fetus responds to frequencies up to 20 kHz, exhibits frequency selectivity and tonotopic organization in utero.