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Castaño-González K, Köppl C, Pyott SJ. The crucial role of diverse animal models to investigate cochlear aging and hearing loss. Hear Res 2024; 445:108989. [PMID: 38518394 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.108989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss affects a large and growing segment of the population, with profound impacts on quality of life. Age-related pathology of the cochlea-the mammalian hearing organ-underlies age-related hearing loss. Because investigating age-related changes in the cochlea in humans is challenging and often impossible, animal models are indispensable to investigate these mechanisms as well as the complex consequences of age-related hearing loss on the brain and behavior. In this review, we advocate for a comparative and interdisciplinary approach while also addressing the challenges of comparing age-related hearing loss across species with varying lifespans. We describe the experimental advantages and limitations as well as areas for future research in well-established models of age-related hearing loss, including mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, and birds. We also indicate the need to expand characterization of age-related hearing loss in other established animal models, especially guinea pigs, cats, and non-human primates, in which auditory function is well characterized but age-related cochlear pathology is understudied. Finally, we highlight the potential of emerging animal models for advancing our understanding of age-related hearing loss, including deer mice, with their notably extended lifespans and preserved hearing, naked mole rats, with their exceptional longevity and extensive vocal communications, as well as zebrafish, which offer genetic tractability and suitability for drug screening. Ultimately, a comparative and interdisciplinary approach in auditory research, combining insights from various animal models with human studies, is key to robust and reliable research outcomes that better advance our understanding and treatment of age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Castaño-González
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen; The Research School of Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Köppl
- Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4All", Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität; Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Sonja J Pyott
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen; The Research School of Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Coffin AB, Dale E, Molano O, Pederson A, Costa EK, Chen J. Age-related changes in the zebrafish and killifish inner ear and lateral line. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6670. [PMID: 38509148 PMCID: PMC10954678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57182-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a debilitating disorder for millions worldwide. While there are multiple underlying causes of ARHL, one common factor is loss of sensory hair cells. In mammals, new hair cells are not produced postnatally and do not regenerate after damage, leading to permanent hearing impairment. By contrast, fish produce hair cells throughout life and robustly regenerate these cells after toxic insult. Despite these regenerative abilities, zebrafish show features of ARHL. Here, we show that aged zebrafish of both sexes exhibited significant hair cell loss and decreased cell proliferation in all inner ear epithelia (saccule, lagena, utricle). Ears from aged zebrafish had increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes and significantly more macrophages than ears from young adult animals. Aged zebrafish also had fewer lateral line hair cells and less cell proliferation than young animals, although lateral line hair cells still robustly regenerated following damage. Unlike zebrafish, African turquoise killifish (an emerging aging model) only showed hair cell loss in the saccule of aged males, but both sexes exhibit age-related changes in the lateral line. Our work demonstrates that zebrafish exhibit key features of auditory aging, including hair cell loss and increased inflammation. Further, our finding that aged zebrafish have fewer lateral line hair cells yet retain regenerative capacity, suggests a decoupling of homeostatic hair cell addition from regeneration following acute trauma. Finally, zebrafish and killifish show species-specific strategies for lateral line homeostasis that may inform further comparative research on aging in mechanosensory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison B Coffin
- College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA.
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA.
| | - Emily Dale
- College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA
- Neuroimmunology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Olivia Molano
- College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Alexandra Pederson
- College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Emma K Costa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jingxun Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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Marcé-Nogué J, Liu J. Finite element modelling of sound transmission in the Weberian apparatus of zebrafish ( Danio rerio). J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230553. [PMID: 38196376 PMCID: PMC10777150 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish, an essential vertebrate model, has greatly expanded our understanding of hearing. However, one area that remains unexplored is the biomechanics of the Weberian apparatus, crucial for sound conduction and perception. Using micro-computed tomography (μCT) bioimaging, we created three-dimensional finite element models of the zebrafish Weberian ossicles. These models ranged from the exact size to scaled isometric versions with constrained geometry (1 to 10 mm in ossicular chain length). Harmonic finite element analysis of all 11 models revealed that the resonance frequency of the zebrafish's Weberian ossicular chain is approximately 900 Hz, matching their optimal hearing range. Interestingly, resonance frequency negatively correlated with size, while the ratio of peak displacement and difference of resonance frequency between tripus and scaphium remained constant. This suggests the transmission efficiency of the ossicular chain and the homogeneity of resonance frequency at both ends of the chain are not size-dependent. We conclude that the Weberian apparatus's resonance frequency can explain zebrafish's best hearing frequency, and their biomechanical characteristics are not influenced by isometric ontogeny. As the first biomechanical modelling of atympanic ear and among the few non-human ear modelling, this study provides a methodological framework for further investigations into hearing mechanisms and the hearing evolution of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Marcé-Nogué
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili Tarragona, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Juan Liu
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Maurer N, Baltzer J, Schaffeld T, Ruser A, Schnitzler JG, Siebert U. Effects of amplitude and duration of noise exposure on the hearing and anti-predator behaviour of common roach (Rutilus rutilus) and sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:671-681. [PMID: 37550238 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates whether an exposure to two different received sound pressure levels at equal cumulative energy affects anti-predator behaviour and auditory detection thresholds of common roach (Rutilus rutilus) and sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) differently. This was examined in regard to a vessel slowdown as a management strategy to decrease vessel noise impact on fishes. Using continuous broadband noise, we found significant temporary threshold shifts (TTS) in roach, with 11.9 and 13.4 dB at 250 and 1000 Hz respectively, for the louder exposure. In contrast, gobies exhibited a non-significant shift of 6.6 dB at 125 Hz. Group cohesion increased in roach exposed to an artificial predator in the control group, but not during noise exposures. Gobies showed an initial freezing reaction towards the predator stimulus remaining motionless regardless of treatment. Our results show that a reduction in vessel speed with a corresponding reduction in source level could mitigate the effects on the auditory senses of sensitive fish, but does not appear to have any mitigating effect on their noise-induced behavioural changes. Further studies should investigate the effects of multiple vessel passages, but also the ecological consequences of the described effects on hearing and behaviour at individual and population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Maurer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Johannes Baltzer
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Tobias Schaffeld
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Andreas Ruser
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Joseph G Schnitzler
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany
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Popper AN, Sisneros JA. The Sound World of Zebrafish: A Critical Review of Hearing Assessment. Zebrafish 2022; 19:37-48. [PMID: 35439045 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2021.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish, like all fish species, use sound to learn about their environment. Thus, human-generated (anthropogenic) sound added to the environment has the potential to disrupt the detection of biologically relevant sounds, alter behavior, impact fitness, and produce stress and other effects that can alter the well-being of animals. This review considers the bioacoustics of zebrafish in the laboratory with two goals. First, we discuss zebrafish hearing and the problems and issues that must be considered in any studies to get a clear understanding of hearing capabilities. Second, we focus on the potential effects of sounds in the tank environment and its impact on zebrafish physiology and health. To do this, we discuss underwater acoustics and the very specialized acoustics of fish tanks, in which zebrafish live and are studied. We consider what is known about zebrafish hearing and what is known about the potential impacts of tank acoustics on zebrafish and their well-being. We conclude with suggestions regarding the major gaps in what is known about zebrafish hearing as well as questions that must be explored to better understand how well zebrafish tolerate and deal with the acoustic world they live in within laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur N Popper
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A Sisneros
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Han E, Lee DH, Park S, Rah YC, Park HC, Choi JW, Choi J. Noise-induced hearing loss in zebrafish model: Characterization of tonotopy and sex-based differences. Hear Res 2022; 418:108485. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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