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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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2
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Park CR, Willott JF, Walton JP. Age-related changes of auditory sensitivity across the life span of CBA/CaJ mice. Hear Res 2024; 441:108921. [PMID: 38042127 PMCID: PMC10843596 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The inbred mouse strain CBA/CaJ is a frequently used animal model of age-related hearing loss in humans. These mice display significant hearing loss at a relatively advanced age, similar to most humans, with progressive loss of hearing as the mouse continues to age. While important descriptions of hearing loss in this mouse strain at multiple ages have previously been published, shortcomings persist in the data for hearing over the lifespan of the mouse. Therefore, we analyzed auditory brainstem response threshold data from records maintained by our research group to yield an extensive database of thresholds over nearly the entire life span of the CBA/CaJ mouse (from 79 to 1085 days). Data was collected from in-house bred mice of CBA/CaJ stock, initially from The Jackson Laboratory. Data was collected using BiosigRZ software and TDT System III hardware. Thresholds were routinely measured in conjunction with behavioral and electrophysiological experiments; only responses from baseline or experimentally naïve animals were analyzed. The resulting data set comprised 376 female mice and 441 males. At the lowest and highest frequencies (8 & 32 kHz), initial thresholds were just under 30 dB SPL and increased slowly until they were significantly different at 16-18 months compared to 1-3 months age, with the difference increasing over subsequent ages. At the middle frequencies (12 & 16 kHz), initial thresholds were just under 20 dB SPL and increased until they became different from initial at 16-18 months. At 24 kHz, initial thresholds were just above 20 dB and became different from initial at 13-16 months of age. The rate of change of thresholds with age were similar for all frequencies until about 30 months of age, when 32 kHz threshold changes lagged behind other frequencies. Generally, CBA/CaJ mice in our colony display relatively low thresholds until approximately 16 months of age, depending on frequency. After 16-18 months, thresholds become significantly worse. After approximately 20-22 months thresholds increase linearly with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin R Park
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - James F Willott
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Joseph P Walton
- Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.
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3
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Panksepp JB, Lahvis GP. Sociability versus empathy in adolescent mice: Different or distinctive? LEARNING AND MOTIVATION 2023; 83:101892. [PMID: 37614811 PMCID: PMC10443922 DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2023.101892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, a growing number of pre-clinical studies have made use of the social abilities of mice, asking how gene variants (e.g., null, transgenic or mutant alleles) give rise to abnormalities in neurodevelopment. Two distinct courses of research provide the foundation for these studies. One course has mostly focused on how we can assess "sociability" using metrics, often automated, to quantitate mouse approach and withdrawal responses to a variety of social stimuli. The other course has focused on psychobiological constructs that underlie the socio-emotional capacities of mice, including motivation, reward and empathy. Critically, we know little about how measures of mouse sociability align with their underlying socio-emotional capacities. In the present work, we compared the expression of sociability in adolescent mice from several strains versus a precisely defined behavioral model of empathy that makes use of a vicarious fear learning paradigm. Despite substantial strain-dependent variation within each behavioral domain, we found little evidence of a relationship between these social phenotypes (i.e., the rank order of strain differences was unique for each test). By contrast, emission of ultrasonic vocalizations was highly associated with sociability, suggesting that these two measures reflect the same underlying construct. Taken together, our results indicate that sociability and vicarious fear learning are not manifestations of a single, overarching social trait. These findings thus underscore the necessity for a robust and diverse set of measures when using laboratory mice to model the social dimensions of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules B. Panksepp
- University of Wisconsin, Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave. Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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Domarecka E, Szczepek AJ. Universal Recommendations on Planning and Performing the Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) with a Focus on Mice and Rats. Audiol Res 2023; 13:441-458. [PMID: 37366685 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres13030039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational audiology research aims to transfer basic research findings into practical clinical applications. While animal studies provide essential knowledge for translational research, there is an urgent need to improve the reproducibility of data derived from these studies. Sources of variability in animal research can be grouped into three areas: animal, equipment, and experimental. To increase standardization in animal research, we developed universal recommendations for designing and conducting studies using a standard audiological method: auditory brainstem response (ABR). The recommendations are domain-specific and are intended to guide the reader through the issues that are important when applying for ABR approval, preparing for, and conducting ABR experiments. Better experimental standardization, which is the goal of these guidelines, is expected to improve the understanding and interpretation of results, reduce the number of animals used in preclinical studies, and improve the translation of knowledge to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Domarecka
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Agnieszka J Szczepek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, 65-046 Zielona Gora, Poland
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5
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Tzelnick S, Mizrachi A, Barkan N, Shivatzki S, Yosefof E, Hikri E, Attias J, Hilly O. The protective effect of aspirin-induced temporary threshold shift in an animal model of cisplatin-related ototoxicity. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022; 149:2009-2016. [PMID: 35773430 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04144-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether induction of temporary threshold shift (TTS) with aspirin prior to cisplatin exposure can prevent or minimize cisplatin detrimental effects on hearing. METHODS We randomly divided BALB mice into three groups: (1) cisplatin only, (2) aspirin only, and (3) combined aspirin/cisplatin. Cisplatin was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection of 14 mg/kg. Aspirin was administered for three weeks via intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg sodium salicylate, twice daily. Air conduction thresholds were recorded using Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR). Cochleae were harvested and cochlear hair cells were counted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS Aspirin-induced TTS have reached an average of 30.05±16.9 dB after 2 weeks. At 60 days, cisplatin-only treated mice experienced an average threshold shifts of 50.7 dB at 4 kHz, 35.16 dB at 8 kHz, 70 dB at 16 kHz, 53.1 dB at 32 kHz. All threshold shifts were significantly worse than for cisplatin/aspirin treated mice with TTS of 11.85 dB at 4 kHz, 3.58 dB at 8 kHz, 16.58 dB at 16 kHz, 20.41 dB at 32 kHz (p < 0.01). Cochlear cell count with SEM has shown reduction in the number of both inner and outer hair cells in the mid-turn in cisplatin treated mice. CONCLUSION Aspirin induced TTS can protect from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. This beneficial effect was demonstrated by auditory thresholds as well as SEM. Larger pre-clinical and clinical studies are still needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Tzelnick
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel. .,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Aviram Mizrachi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Neta Barkan
- Institute of Audiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Shaked Shivatzki
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eyal Yosefof
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Elad Hikri
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Joseph Attias
- Institute of Audiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.,Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ohad Hilly
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky St, Petah Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Chai Y, He W, Yang W, Hetrick AP, Gonzalez JG, Sargsyan L, Wu H, Jung TTK, Li H. Intratympanic Lipopolysaccharide Elevates Systemic Fluorescent Gentamicin Uptake in the Cochlea. Laryngoscope 2021; 131:E2573-E2582. [PMID: 33956344 PMCID: PMC8453712 DOI: 10.1002/lary.29610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objectives/Hypothesis Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a key component of bacterial endotoxins, activates macrophages and triggers the release of inflammatory cytokines in mammalian tissues. Recent studies have shown that intratympanic injection of LPS simulates acute otitis media (AOM) and results in morphological and functional changes in the inner ear. Here we established an AOM mouse model with LPS to investigate the uptake of ototoxic gentamicin in the inner ear, and elucidated the underlying mechanism by focusing on cochlear inflammation as a result of AOM. Study Design Preclinical rodent animal model. Methods Fluorescently tagged gentamicin (GTTR) was systemically administered to mice with AOM. Iba1‐positive macrophage morphology and inner ear cytokine profile were evaluated by immunofluorescence technique and a mouse cytokine array kit, respectively. Results We observed characteristic symptoms of AOM in the LPS‐treated ears with elevated hearing thresholds indicating a conductive hearing loss. More importantly, the LPS‐induced AOM activated cochlear inflammatory responses, manifested by macrophage infiltration, particularly in the organ of Corti and the spiral ligament, in addition to the up‐regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, GTTR uptake in the stria vascularis and sensory hair cells from all the LPS‐treated ears was significantly enhanced at 24, 48, and 72‐hour post‐treatment, as the most prominent enhancement was observed in the 48‐hour group. Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that the pathological cochlea is more susceptible to ototoxic drugs, including aminoglycosides, and justified the clinical concern of aminoglycoside ototoxicity in the AOM treatment. Laryngoscope, 131:E2573–E2582, 2021
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchuan Chai
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Weiwei He
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Weiqiang Yang
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Alisa P Hetrick
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Jessica G Gonzalez
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Liana Sargsyan
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Timothy T K Jung
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
| | - Hongzhe Li
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A
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7
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Szepesy J, Humli V, Farkas J, Miklya I, Tímár J, Tábi T, Gáborján A, Polony G, Szirmai Á, Tamás L, Köles L, Vizi ES, Zelles T. Chronic Oral Selegiline Treatment Mitigates Age-Related Hearing Loss in BALB/c Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2853. [PMID: 33799684 PMCID: PMC7999597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a sensorineural hearing loss of multifactorial origin, increases its prevalence in aging societies. Besides hearing aids and cochlear implants, there is no FDA approved efficient pharmacotherapy to either cure or prevent ARHL. We hypothesized that selegiline, an antiparkinsonian drug, could be a promising candidate for the treatment due to its complex neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission enhancing effects. We monitored by repeated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) measurements the effect of chronic per os selegiline administration on the hearing function in BALB/c and DBA/2J mice, which strains exhibit moderate and rapid progressive high frequency hearing loss, respectively. The treatments were started at 1 month of age and lasted until almost a year and 5 months of age, respectively. In BALB/c mice, 4 mg/kg selegiline significantly mitigated the progression of ARHL at higher frequencies. Used in a wide dose range (0.15-45 mg/kg), selegiline had no effect in DBA/2J mice. Our results suggest that selegiline can partially preserve the hearing in certain forms of ARHL by alleviating its development. It might also be otoprotective in other mammals or humans.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Aging/physiology
- Animals
- Antiparkinson Agents/administration & dosage
- Antiparkinson Agents/pharmacology
- Auditory Threshold/drug effects
- Auditory Threshold/physiology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/drug effects
- Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology
- Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/drug therapy
- Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/physiopathology
- Humans
- Male
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred DBA
- Protective Agents/administration & dosage
- Protective Agents/pharmacology
- Selegiline/administration & dosage
- Selegiline/pharmacology
- Synaptic Transmission/drug effects
- Synaptic Transmission/physiology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Szepesy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.); (G.P.); (Á.S.); (L.T.)
| | - Viktória Humli
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
| | - János Farkas
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
| | - Ildikó Miklya
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
| | - Júlia Tímár
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
| | - Tamás Tábi
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Anita Gáborján
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.); (G.P.); (Á.S.); (L.T.)
| | - Gábor Polony
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.); (G.P.); (Á.S.); (L.T.)
| | - Ágnes Szirmai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.); (G.P.); (Á.S.); (L.T.)
| | - László Tamás
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.); (G.P.); (Á.S.); (L.T.)
| | - László Köles
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
- Department of Oral Biology, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Elek Sylvester Vizi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Zelles
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (V.H.); (J.F.); (I.M.); (J.T.); (L.K.); (E.S.V.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
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Sargsyan L, Hetrick AP, Gonzalez JG, Leek MR, Martin GK, Li H. Effects of combined gentamicin and furosemide treatment on cochlear ribbon synapses. Neurotoxicology 2021; 84:73-83. [PMID: 33667563 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
It is well-established that aminoglycoside antibiotics are ototoxic, and the toxicity can be drastically enhanced by the addition of loop diuretics, resulting in rapid irreversible hair cell damage. Using both electrophysiologic and morphological approaches, we investigated whether this combined treatment affected the cochlea at the region of ribbon synapses, consequently resulting in auditory synaptopathy. A series of varied gentamicin and furosemide doses were applied to C57BL/6 mice, and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were measured to assess ototoxic damage within the cochlea. In brief, the treatment effectively induced cochlear damage and promoted a certain reorganization of synaptic ribbons, while a reduction of ribbon density only occurred after a substantial loss of outer hair cells. In addition, both the ABR wave I amplitude and the ribbon density were elevated in low-dose treatment conditions, but a correlation between the two events was not significant for individual cochleae. In sum, combined gentamicin and furosemide treatment, at titrated doses below those that produce hair cell damage, typically triggers synaptic plasticity rather than a permanent synaptic loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Sargsyan
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, CA 92357, USA
| | - Alisa P Hetrick
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, CA 92357, USA
| | | | - Marjorie R Leek
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, CA 92357, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Glen K Martin
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, CA 92357, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Hongzhe Li
- Research Service, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, CA 92357, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
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9
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Tam WY, Cheung KK. Phenotypic characteristics of commonly used inbred mouse strains. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:1215-1234. [PMID: 32712726 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01953-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The laboratory mouse is the most commonly used mammalian model for biomedical research. An enormous number of mouse models, such as gene knockout, knockin, and overexpression transgenic mice, have been created over the years. A common practice to maintain a genetically modified mouse line is backcrossing with standard inbred mice over several generations. However, the choice of inbred mouse for backcrossing is critical to phenotypic characterization because phenotypic variabilities are often observed between mice with different genetic backgrounds. In this review, the major features of commonly used inbred mouse lines are discussed. The aim is to provide information for appropriate selection of inbred mouse lines for genetic and behavioral studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Yip Tam
- University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Kwok-Kuen Cheung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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10
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Reynolds R, Garner A, Norton J. Sound and Vibration as Research Variables in Terrestrial Vertebrate Models. ILAR J 2020; 60:159-174. [PMID: 32602530 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sound and vibration have been shown to alter animal behavior and induce physiological changes as well as to cause effects at the cellular and molecular level. For these reasons, both environmental factors have a considerable potential to alter research outcomes when the outcome of the study is dependent on the animal existing in a normal or predictable biological state. Determining the specific levels of sound or vibration that will alter research is complex, as species will respond to different frequencies and have varying frequencies where they are most sensitive. In consideration of the potential of these factors to alter research, a thorough review of the literature and the conditions that likely exist in the research facility should occur specific to each research study. This review will summarize the fundamental physical properties of sound and vibration in relation to deriving maximal level standards, consider the sources of exposure, review the effects on animals, and discuss means by which the adverse effects of these factors can be mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall Reynolds
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Durham, NC
| | - Angela Garner
- Duke University School of Medicine, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Durham, NC
| | - John Norton
- Duke University School of Medicine, Pathology and Division of Laboratory Animal Resources
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11
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Beckmann D, Feldmann M, Shchyglo O, Manahan-Vaughan D. Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Spatial Memory, and Neurotransmitter Receptor Expression Are Profoundly Altered by Gradual Loss of Hearing Ability. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4581-4596. [PMID: 32202614 PMCID: PMC7325716 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory information comprises the substrate from which memories are created. Memories of spatial sensory experience are encoded by means of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Hippocampal dependency on sensory information is highlighted by the fact that sudden and complete loss of a sensory modality results in an impairment of hippocampal function that persists for months. Effects are accompanied by extensive changes in the expression of neurotransmitter receptors in cortex and hippocampus, consistent with a substantial adaptive reorganization of cortical function. Whether gradual sensory loss affects hippocampal function is unclear. Progressive age-dependent hearing loss (presbycusis) is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Here, we scrutinized C57BL/6 mice that experience hereditary and cumulative deafness starting in young adulthood. We observed that 2–4 months postnatally, increases in the cortical and hippocampal expression of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor occurred compared to control mice that lack sensory deficits. Furthermore, GABA and metabotropic glutamate receptor expression were significantly altered. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity was profoundly impaired and mice exhibited significant deficits in spatial memory. These data show that during cortical adaptation to cumulative loss of hearing, plasticity-related neurotransmitter expression is extensively altered in the cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, cumulative sensory loss compromises hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Beckmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.,International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Mirko Feldmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.,International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Olena Shchyglo
- Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Denise Manahan-Vaughan
- Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.,International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
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12
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Abstract
The techniques and protocols to modify the mouse genome described in this volume allow researchers to produce genetic models of a remarkable number and breadth of human disease. The generation of gene-modified mice offers profoundly powerful approaches for bringing known or purported human gene disruptions into mouse models, but the degree to which the resultant mutant mouse recapitulates the complex physiological and behavioral features of the human disease state is a key variable in the ultimate usefulness of the mouse model organism. Accordingly, the behavioral characterization of mice with novel targeted gene mutations is an important initial step in determining the potential impact of a novel mouse model. This chapter addresses strategies useful in the initial observations of the animal that assist in directing the choice of secondary tests to assess more detailed aspects of potentially disrupted behaviors that may be relevant to the disease being modeled. An initial standardized, comprehensive screen that assesses general health, reflexes, and sensorimotor functions is the first step in characterizing behavioral phenotype, and results often suggest areas where more complex complementary behavioral assays may reveal more detailed disruption of normal behavior. This sequential, standardized approach reduces variability between subjects; this chapter also addresses approaches to reducing experimental artifacts due to handling, test order, testing facility environment, and other sources. This brief overview of behavioral phenotyping approaches is intended to provide practical information to streamline initial characterization of new mouse models and maximize the usefulness of efforts to use these models to study human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth E McCarson
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, Kansas Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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13
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Arakawa H. Sensorimotor developmental factors influencing the performance of laboratory rodents on learning and memory. Behav Brain Res 2019; 375:112140. [PMID: 31401145 PMCID: PMC6741784 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral studies in animal models have advanced our knowledge of brain function and the neural mechanisms of human diseases. Commonly used laboratory rodents, such as mice and rats, provide a useful tool for studying the behaviors and mechanisms associated with learning and memory processes which are cooperatively regulated by multiple underlying factors, including sensory and motor performance and emotional/defense innate components. Each of these factors shows unique ontogeny and governs the sustainment of behavioral performance in learning tasks, and thus, understanding the integrative processes of behavioral development are crucial in the accurate interpretation of the functional meaning of learning and memory behaviors expressed in commonly employed behavioral test paradigms. In this review, we will summarize the major findings in the developmental processes of rodent behavior on the basis of the emergence of fundamental components for sustaining learning and memory behaviors. Briefly, most sensory modalities (except for vision) and motor abilities are functional at the juvenile stage, in which several defensive components, including active and passive defensive strategies and risk assessment behavior, emerge. Sex differences are detectable from the juvenile stage through adulthood and are considerable factors that influence behavioral tests. The test paradigms addressed in this review include associative learning (with an emphasis on fear conditioning), spatial learning, and recognition. This basic background information will aid in accurately performing behavioral studies in laboratory rodents and will therefore contribute to reducing inappropriate interpretations of behavioral data and further advance research on learning and memory in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn St. HSF2/S251, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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14
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Ohlemiller KK. Mouse methods and models for studies in hearing. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:3668. [PMID: 31795658 DOI: 10.1121/1.5132550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory mice have become the dominant animal model for hearing research. The mouse cochlea operates according to standard "mammalian" principles, uses the same cochlear cell types, and exhibits the same types of injury as found in other mammals. The typical mouse lifespan is less than 3 years, yet the age-associated pathologies that may be found are quite similar to longer-lived mammals. All Schuknecht's types of presbycusis have been identified in existing mouse lines, some favoring hair cell loss while others favor strial degeneration. Although noise exposure generally affects the mouse cochlea in a manner similar to other mammals, mice appear more prone to permanent alterations to hair cells or the organ of Corti than to hair cell loss. Therapeutic compounds may be applied systemically or locally through the tympanic membrane or onto (or through) the round window membrane. The thinness of the mouse cochlear capsule and annular ligament may promote drug entry from the middle ear, although an extremely active middle ear lining may quickly remove most drugs. Preclinical testing of any therapeutic will always require tests in multiple animal models. Mice constitute one model providing supporting evidence for any therapeutic, while genetically engineered mice can test hypotheses about mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf at Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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15
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Zhou Y, Takahashi S, Homma K, Duan C, Zheng J, Cheatham MA, Zheng J. The susceptibility of cochlear outer hair cells to cyclodextrin is not related to their electromotile activity. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:98. [PMID: 30249300 PMCID: PMC6151916 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0599-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick Type C1 (NPC1) disease is a fatal neurovisceral disorder caused by dysfunction of NPC1 protein, which plays a role in intracellular cholesterol trafficking. The cholesterol-chelating agent, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), is currently undergoing clinical trials for treatment of this disease. Though promising in alleviating neurological symptoms, HPβCD causes irreversible hearing loss in NPC1 patients and outer hair cell (OHC) death in animal models. We recently found that HPβCD-induced OHC death can be significantly alleviated in a mouse model lacking prestin, an OHC-specific motor protein required for the high sensitivity and sharp frequency selectivity of mammalian hearing. Since cholesterol status is known to influence prestin’s electromotility, we examined how prestin contributes to HPβCD-induced OHC death in the disease context using the NPC1 knockout (KO) mouse model (NPC1-KO). We found normal expression and localization of prestin in NPC1-KO OHCs. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed a significant depolarization of the voltage-operating point of prestin in NPC1-KO mice, suggesting reduced levels of cholesterol in the lateral membrane of OHCs that lack NPC1. OHC loss and elevated thresholds were found for high frequency regions in NPC1-KO mice, whose OHCs retained their sensitivity to HPβCD. To investigate whether prestin’s electromotile function contributes to HPβCD-induced OHC death, the prestin inhibitor salicylate was co-administered with HPβCD to WT and NPC1-KO mice. Neither oral nor intraperitoneal administration of salicylate mitigated HPβCD-induced OHC loss. To further determine the contribution of prestin’s electromotile function, a mouse model expressing a virtually nonelectromotile prestin protein (499-prestin) was subjected to HPβCD treatment. 499-prestin knockin mice showed no resistance to HPβCD-induced OHC loss. As 499-prestin maintains its ability to bind cholesterol, our data imply that HPβCD-induced OHC death is ascribed to the structural role of prestin in maintaining the OHC’s lateral membrane, rather than its motor function.
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16
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Effects of Aging and Noise Exposure on Auditory Brainstem Responses and Number of Presynaptic Ribbons in Inner Hair Cells of C57BL/6J Mice. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-018-9691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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17
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Chhan D, McKinnon ML, Rosowski JJ. Identification of induced and naturally occurring conductive hearing loss in mice using bone conduction. Hear Res 2017; 346:45-54. [PMID: 28167132 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
While many mouse models of hearing loss have been described, a significant fraction of the genetic defects in these models affect both the inner ear and middle ears. A common method used to separate inner-ear (sensory-neural) from middle-ear (conductive) pathologies in the hearing clinic is the combination of air-conduction and bone-conduction audiometry. In this report, we investigate the use of air- and bone-conducted evoked auditory brainstem responses to perform a similar separation in mice. We describe a technique by which we stimulate the mouse ear both acoustically and via whole-head vibration. We investigate the sensitivity of this technique to conductive hearing loss by introducing middle-ear lesions in normal hearing mice. We also use the technique to investigate the presence of an age-related conductive hearing loss in a common mouse model of presbycusis, the BALB/c mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Chhan
- Army Research Lab, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA.
| | - Melissa L McKinnon
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - John J Rosowski
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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18
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Ohlemiller KK, Jones SM, Johnson KR. Application of Mouse Models to Research in Hearing and Balance. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2016; 17:493-523. [PMID: 27752925 PMCID: PMC5112220 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-016-0589-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice (Mus musculus) have become the major model species for inner ear research. The major uses of mice include gene discovery, characterization, and confirmation. Every application of mice is founded on assumptions about what mice represent and how the information gained may be generalized. A host of successes support the continued use of mice to understand hearing and balance. Depending on the research question, however, some mouse models and research designs will be more appropriate than others. Here, we recount some of the history and successes of the use of mice in hearing and vestibular studies and offer guidelines to those considering how to apply mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Sherri M Jones
- Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
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19
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Godfrey DA, Lee AC, Hamilton WD, Benjamin LC, Vishwanath S, Simo H, Godfrey LM, Mustapha AIAA, Heffner RS. Volumes of cochlear nucleus regions in rodents. Hear Res 2016; 339:161-74. [PMID: 27435005 PMCID: PMC5835392 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The cochlear nucleus receives all the coded information about sound from the cochlea and is the source of auditory information for the rest of the central auditory system. As such, it is a critical auditory nucleus. The sizes of the cochlear nucleus as a whole and its three major subdivisions - anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), posteroventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN), and dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) - have been measured in a large number of mammals, but measurements of its subregions at a more detailed level for a variety of species have not previously been made. Size measurements are reported here for the summed granular regions, DCN layers, AVCN, PVCN, and interstitial nucleus in 15 different rodent species, as well as a lagomorph, carnivore, and small primate. This further refinement of measurements is important because the granular regions and superficial layers of the DCN appear to have some different functions than the other cochlear nucleus regions. Except for DCN layers in the mountain beaver, all regions were clearly identifiable in all the animals studied. Relative regional size differences among most of the rodents, and even the 3 non-rodents, were not large and did not show a consistent relation to their wide range of lifestyles and hearing parameters. However, the mountain beaver, and to a lesser extent the pocket gopher, two rodents that live in tunnel systems, had relative sizes of summed granular regions and DCN molecular layer distinctly larger than those of the other mammals. Among all the mammals studied, there was a high correlation between the size per body weight of summed granular regions and that of the DCN molecular layer, consistent with other evidence for a close relationship between granule cells and superficial DCN neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Godfrey
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States.
| | - Augustine C Lee
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Walter D Hamilton
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Louis C Benjamin
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Shilpa Vishwanath
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Hermann Simo
- Department of Medicine, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Lynn M Godfrey
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
| | - Abdurrahman I A A Mustapha
- Department of Neurology, University of Toledo, United States; Division of Otolaryngology and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, University of Toledo, United States
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20
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Mock BE, Vijayakumar S, Pierce J, Jones TA, Jones SM. Differential effects of Cdh23(753A) on auditory and vestibular functional aging in C57BL/6J mice. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 43:13-22. [PMID: 27255811 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The C57BL/6J (B6) mouse strain carries a cadherin 23 mutation (Cdh23(753A), also known as Ahl), which affects inner ear structures and results in age-related hearing loss. The B6.CAST strain harbors the wild type Cdh23 gene, and hence, the influence of Ahl is absent. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the effect of age and gender on gravity receptor function in B6 and B6.CAST strains and to compare functional aging between auditory and vestibular modalities. Auditory sensitivity declined at significantly faster rates than gravity receptor sensitivity for both strains. Indeed, vestibular functional aging was minimal for both strains. The comparatively smaller loss of macular versus cochlear sensitivity in both the B6 and B6.CAST strains suggests that the contribution of Ahl to the aging of the vestibular system is minimal, and thus very different than its influence on aging of the auditory system. Alternatively, there exist unidentified genes or gene modifiers that serve to slow the degeneration of gravity receptor structures and maintain gravity receptor sensitivity into advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce E Mock
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Sarath Vijayakumar
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Jessica Pierce
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Timothy A Jones
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Sherri M Jones
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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21
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Ohlemiller KK, Kiener AL, Gagnon PM. QTL Mapping of Endocochlear Potential Differences between C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2016; 17:173-94. [PMID: 26980469 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-016-0558-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We reported earlier that the endocochlear potential (EP) differs between C57BL/6J (B6) and BALB/cJ (BALB) mice, being lower in BALBs by about 10 mV (Ohlemiller et al. Hear Res 220: 10-26, 2006). This difference corresponds to strain differences with respect to the density of marginal cells in cochlear stria vascularis. After about 1 year of age, BALB mice also tend toward EP reduction that correlates with further marginal cell loss. We therefore suggested that early sub-clinical features of the BALB stria vascularis may predispose these mice to a condition modeling Schuknecht's strial presbycusis. We further reported (Ohlemiller et al. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 12: 45-58, 2011) that the acute effects of a 2-h 110 dB SPL noise exposure differ between B6 and BALB mice, such that the EP remains unchanged in B6 mice, but is reduced by 40-50 mV in BALBs. In about 25 % of BALBs, the EP does not completely recover, so that permanent EP reduction may contribute to noise-induced permanent threshold shifts in BALBs. To identify genes and alleles that may promote natural EP variation as well as noise-related EP reduction in BALB mice, we have mapped related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using 12 recombinant inbred (RI) strains formed from B6 and BALB (CxB1-CxB12). EP and strial marginal cell density were measured in B6 mice, BALB mice, their F1 hybrids, and RI mice without noise exposure, and 1-3 h after broadband noise (4-45 kHz, 110 dB SPL, 2 h). For unexposed mice, the strain distribution patterns for EP and marginal cell density were used to generate preliminary QTL maps for both EP and marginal cell density. Six QTL regions were at least statistically suggestive, including a significant QTL for marginal cell density on chromosome 12 that overlapped a weak QTL for EP variation. This region, termed Maced (Marginal cell density QTL) supports the notion of marginal cell density as a genetically influenced contributor to natural EP variation. Candidate genes for Maced notably include Foxg1, Foxa1, Akap6, Nkx2-1, and Pax9. Noise exposure produced significant EP reductions in two RI strains as well as significant EP increases in two RI strains. QTL mapping of the EP in noise-exposed RI mice yielded four suggestive regions. Two of these overlapped with QTL regions we previously identified for noise-related EP reduction in CBA/J mice (Ohlemiller et al. Hear Res 260: 47-53, 2010) on chromosomes 5 and 18 (Nirep). The present map may narrow the Nirep interval to a ~10-Mb region of proximal Chr. 18 that includes Zeb1, Arhgap12, Mpp7, and Gjd4. This study marks the first exploration of natural gene variants that modulate the EP. Their orthologs may underlie some human hearing loss that originates in the lateral wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf at Washington University School of Medicine, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Anna L Kiener
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Patricia M Gagnon
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf at Washington University School of Medicine, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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22
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Bradford RD, Yoo YG, Golemac M, Pugel EP, Jonjic S, Britt WJ. Murine CMV-induced hearing loss is associated with inner ear inflammation and loss of spiral ganglia neurons. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004774. [PMID: 25875183 PMCID: PMC4395355 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) occurs in 0.5–1% of live births and approximately 10% of infected infants develop hearing loss. The mechanism(s) of hearing loss remain unknown. We developed a murine model of CMV induced hearing loss in which murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of newborn mice leads to hematogenous spread of virus to the inner ear, induction of inflammatory responses, and hearing loss. Characteristics of the hearing loss described in infants with congenital HCMV infection were observed including, delayed onset, progressive hearing loss, and unilateral hearing loss in this model and, these characteristics were viral inoculum dependent. Viral antigens were present in the inner ear as were CD3+ mononuclear cells in the spiral ganglion and stria vascularis. Spiral ganglion neuron density was decreased after infection, thus providing a mechanism for hearing loss. The lack of significant inner ear histopathology and persistence of inflammation in cochlea of mice with hearing loss raised the possibility that inflammation was a major component of the mechanism(s) of hearing loss in MCMV infected mice. Congenital infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common viral infection of the fetus and occurs in 0.5–2.0% of all live births in most regions in the world. Infection of the fetus can result in a spectrum of end-organ disease, including long term damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Although less than 10% of infected infants exhibit clinical evidence of end-organ disease, up to 10% of the total number of infected infants develop hearing loss. Mechanisms of disease leading to hearing loss are poorly understood because of the limited availability of pathological specimens and accessibility of the inner ear. Existing small animal models fail to recapitulate many features of this infection of the inner ear. In this report we describe a mouse model in which newborn animals infected peripherally with murine CMV develop hearing loss following hematogenous spread of virus to the inner ear. Hearing loss occurs in 30–50% of animals and characteristics of hearing loss in infants with congenital HCMV infection, including delayed onset of hearing loss, progressive hearing loss, and unilateral hearing loss were present in infected mice. Our findings suggest that host derived inflammatory responses and not direct virus-mediated cytopathology are responsible for hearing loss. Findings from this study provide insight into potential mechanisms of hearing loss in infants with congenital HCMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell D. Bradford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Young-Gun Yoo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Mijo Golemac
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ester Pernjak Pugel
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjic
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - William J. Britt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Kariya S, Okano M, Maeda Y, Hirai H, Higaki T, Noyama Y, Haruna T, Nishihira J, Nishizaki K. Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in age-related hearing loss. Neuroscience 2014; 279:132-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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24
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Gröschel M, Hubert N, Müller S, Ernst A, Basta D. Age-dependent changes of calcium related activity in the central auditory pathway. Exp Gerontol 2014; 58:235-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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25
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Ogier JM, Carpinelli MR, Arhatari BD, Symons RCA, Kile BT, Burt RA. CHD7 deficiency in "Looper", a new mouse model of CHARGE syndrome, results in ossicle malformation, otosclerosis and hearing impairment. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97559. [PMID: 24840056 PMCID: PMC4026240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CHARGE syndrome is a rare human disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7). Characteristics of CHARGE are varied and include developmental ear and hearing anomalies. Here we report a novel mouse model of CHD7 dysfunction, termed Looper. The Looper strain harbours a nonsense mutation (c.5690C>A, p.S1897X) within the Chd7 gene. Looper mice exhibit many of the clinical features of the human syndrome, consistent with previously reported CHARGE models, including growth retardation, facial asymmetry, vestibular defects, eye anomalies, hyperactivity, ossicle malformation, hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction. Looper mice display an otosclerosis-like fusion of the stapes footplate to the cochlear oval window and blepharoconjunctivitis but not coloboma. Looper mice are hyperactive and have vestibular dysfunction but do not display motor impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina R. Carpinelli
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benedicta D. Arhatari
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science, Department of Physics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - R. C. Andrew Symons
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin T. Kile
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Burt
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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King KA, Gordon-Salant S, Pawlowski KS, Taylor AM, Griffith AJ, Houser A, Kurima K, Wassif CA, Wright CG, Porter FD, Repa JJ, Brewer CC. Hearing loss is an early consequence of Npc1 gene deletion in the mouse model of Niemann-Pick disease, type C. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2014; 15:529-41. [PMID: 24839095 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-014-0459-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) is a rare lysosomal lipidosis that is most often the result of biallelic mutations in NPC1, and is characterized by a fatal neurological degeneration. The pathophysiology is complex, and the natural history of the disease is poorly understood. Recent findings from patients with NPC1 and hearing loss suggest that multiple steps along the auditory pathway are affected. The current study was undertaken to determine the auditory phenotype in the Npc1 (nih) mutant mouse model, to extend analyses to histologic evaluation of the inner ear, and to compare our findings to those reported from human patients. Auditory testing revealed a progressive high-frequency hearing loss in Npc1 (-/-) mice that is present as early as postnatal day 20 (P20), well before the onset of overt neurological symptoms, with evidence of abnormalities involving the cochlea, auditory nerve, and brainstem auditory centers. Distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitude and auditory brainstem response latency data provided evidence for a disruption in maturational development of the auditory system in Npc1 (-/-) mice. Anatomical study demonstrated accumulation of lysosomes in neurons, hair cells, and supporting cells of the inner ear in P30 Npc1 (-/-) mice, as well as increased numbers of inclusion bodies, myelin figures, and swollen nerve endings in older (P50-P70) mutant animals. These findings add unique perspective to the pathophysiology of NPC disease and suggest that hearing loss is an early and sensitive marker of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A King
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA,
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27
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Tokarz SA, Pang J, Grosz A, Kempton JB, Trune DR, Pillers DAM. Age-related cochlear cytokine gene expression in the BALB/cJ mouse with systemic versus intratympanic dosing of steroid drugs. Acta Otolaryngol 2013; 133:685-91. [PMID: 23768053 DOI: 10.3109/00016489.2013.771407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
CONCLUSION Age-related differences in the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the inner ear may contribute to the development of age-related hearing loss (ARHL). OBJECTIVES ARHL is characterized by tissue remodeling, ischemia, ion homeostasis, and inflammation. Steroid therapy is an otoprotective strategy that likely acts by reducing inflammation. We examined age-related changes in cytokine gene expression in the cochlea of the BALB/cJ mouse model of premature ARHL after systemic or intratympanic steroid delivery. METHODS 'Young' (2.5-3 months) and 'Old' (5-9 months) mice were treated with dexamethasone or fludrocortisone administered either orally or intratympanically. Cytokine gene expression in cochlear RNA was analyzed using prefabricated cDNA arrays. Old groups were compared to Young groups to identify age-related changes. RESULTS Down-regulation of a cytokine associated with bone remodeling (SPP1) was observed in the untreated Old group. Numerous genes were up- or down-regulated by more than twofold by steroid treatment, including proinflammatory interleukins (IL-16) and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Tokarz
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Meriter Hospital, Madison, WI 53715, USA
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28
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Marano RJ, Tickner J, Redmond SL. Prolactin expression in the cochlea of aged BALB/c mice is gender biased and correlates to loss of bone mineral density and hearing loss. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63952. [PMID: 23667691 PMCID: PMC3646833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolactin is a versatile hormone with over 300 known functions and predominantly expressed in the pituitary. However, its expression has additionally been found in a number of extrapituitary organs. Recently, we described the expression of prolactin in the inner ear of mice, where it was correlated to age. Previous research has shown prolactin to be linked to abnormal bone metabolism and hearing loss due to changes in morphology of the bony otic capsule. Here we further investigated the relationship between prolactin, hearing loss and cochlea bone metabolism. BALB/c mice were tested for hearing using ABR at 6 and 12 months of age. Bone mineral density of the cochlea was evaluated using microCT scanning. Prolactin expression was calculated using quantitative real time PCR. Expression of the key regulators of bone metabolism, osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand were also determined. We found that prolactin expression was exclusive to the female mice. This also correlated to a greater threshold shift in hearing for the females between 6 and 12 months of age. Analyses of the cochlea also show that the bone mineral density was lower in females compared to males. However, no gender differences in expression of osteoprotegerin or receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand could be found. Further analysis of cochlea histological sections revealed larger ostocyte lacunae in the females. These results provide a possible mechanism for an age related hearing loss sub-type that is associated with gender and provides clues as to how this gender bias in hearing loss develops. In addition, it has the potential to lead to treatment for this specific type of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Marano
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
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29
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Slater BJ, Willis AM, Llano DA. Evidence for layer-specific differences in auditory corticocollicular neurons. Neuroscience 2012; 229:144-54. [PMID: 23137545 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent data suggest that there may be distinct processing streams emanating from auditory cortical layers 5 and 6 that influence the auditory midbrain. To determine whether these projections have different physiological properties, we injected rhodamine-tagged latex tracer beads into the inferior colliculus of >30-day-old mice to label these corticofugal cells. Whole-cell recordings were performed on 62 labeled cells to determine their basic electrophysiological properties and cells were filled with biocytin to determine their morphological characteristics. Layer 5 auditory corticocollicular cells have prominent I(h)-mediated sag and rebound currents, have relatively sluggish time constants, and can generate calcium-dependent rhythmic bursts. In contrast, layer 6 auditory corticocollicular cells are non-bursting, do not demonstrate sag or rebound currents and have short time constants. Quantitative analysis of morphology showed that layer 6 cells are smaller, have a horizontal orientation, and have very long dendrites (>500 μm) that branch profusely both near the soma distally near the pia. Layer 5 corticocollicular cells are large pyramidal cells with a long apical dendrite with most branching near the pial surface. The marked differences in physiological properties and dendritic arborization between neurons in layers 5 and 6 make it likely that each type plays a distinct role in controlling auditory information processing in the midbrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Slater
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
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30
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Walcher J, Hassfurth B, Grothe B, Koch U. Comparative posthearing development of inhibitory inputs to the lateral superior olive in gerbils and mice. J Neurophysiol 2011; 106:1443-53. [PMID: 21697449 DOI: 10.1152/jn.01087.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaural intensity differences are analyzed in neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) by integration of an inhibitory input from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), activated by sound from the contralateral ear, with an excitatory input from the ipsilateral cochlear nucleus. The early postnatal refinement of this inhibitory MNTB-LSO projection along the tonotopic axis of the LSO has been extensively studied. However, little is known to what extent physiological changes at these inputs also occur after the onset of sound-evoked activity. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of LSO neurons in acute brain stem slices, we analyzed the developmental changes of inhibitory synaptic currents evoked by MNTB fiber stimulation occurring after hearing onset. We compared these results in gerbils and mice, two species frequently used in auditory research. Our data show that neither the number of presumed input fibers nor the conductance of single fibers significantly changed after hearing onset. Also the amplitude of miniature inhibitory currents remained constant during this developmental period. In contrast, the kinetics of inhibitory synaptic currents greatly accelerated after hearing onset. We conclude that tonotopic refinement of inhibitory projections to the LSO is largely completed before the onset of hearing, whereas acceleration of synaptic kinetics occurs to a large part after hearing onset and might thus be dependent on proper auditory experience. Surprisingly, inhibitory input characteristics, as well as basic membrane properties of LSO neurons, were rather similar in gerbils and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Walcher
- Department Biologie II, Ludwig-Maximilans University München, Martinsried, Germany
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31
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Panksepp JB, Lahvis GP. Rodent empathy and affective neuroscience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011; 35:1864-75. [PMID: 21672550 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Revised: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In the past few years, several experimental studies have suggested that empathy occurs in the social lives of rodents. Thus, rodent behavioral models can now be developed to elucidate the mechanistic substrates of empathy at levels that have heretofore been unavailable. For example, the finding that mice from certain inbred strains express behavioral and physiological responses to conspecific distress, while others do not, underscores that the genetic underpinnings of empathy are specifiable and that they could be harnessed to develop new therapies for human psychosocial impairments. However, the advent of rodent models of empathy is met at the outset with a number of theoretical and semantic problems that are similar to those previously confronted by studies of empathy in humans. The distinct underlying components of empathy must be differentiated from one another and from lay usage of the term. The primary goal of this paper is to review a set of seminal studies that are directly relevant to developing a concept of empathy in rodents. We first consider some of the psychological phenomena that have been associated with empathy, and within this context, we consider the component processes, or endophenotypes of rodent empathy. We then review a series of recent experimental studies that demonstrate the capability of rodents to detect and respond to the affective state of their social partners. We focus primarily on experiments that examine how rodents share affective experiences of fear, but we also highlight how similar types of experimental paradigms can be utilized to evaluate the possibility that rodents share positive affective experiences. Taken together, these studies were inspired by Jaak Panksepp's theory that all mammals are capable of felt affective experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules B Panksepp
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L470, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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32
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Charizopoulou N, Lelli A, Schraders M, Ray K, Hildebrand MS, Ramesh A, Srisailapathy CRS, Oostrik J, Admiraal RJC, Neely HR, Latoche JR, Smith RJH, Northup JK, Kremer H, Holt JR, Noben-Trauth K. Gipc3 mutations associated with audiogenic seizures and sensorineural hearing loss in mouse and human. Nat Commun 2011; 2:201. [PMID: 21326233 PMCID: PMC3105340 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 01/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss affects the quality of life and communication of millions of people, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we identify mutations in Gipc3 underlying progressive sensorineural hearing loss (age-related hearing loss 5, ahl5) and audiogenic seizures (juvenile audiogenic monogenic seizure 1, jams1) in mice and autosomal recessive deafness DFNB15 and DFNB95 in humans. Gipc3 localizes to inner ear sensory hair cells and spiral ganglion. A missense mutation in the PDZ domain has an attenuating effect on mechanotransduction and the acquisition of mature inner hair cell potassium currents. Magnitude and temporal progression of wave I amplitude of afferent neurons correlate with susceptibility and resistance to audiogenic seizures. The Gipc3(343A) allele disrupts the structure of the stereocilia bundle and affects long-term function of auditory hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. Our study suggests a pivotal role of Gipc3 in acoustic signal acquisition and propagation in cochlear hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Charizopoulou
- Section on Neurogenetics, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
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33
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Kou ZZ, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Li H, Li YQ. Age-related increase in PKC gamma expression in the cochlear nucleus of hearing impaired C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. J Chem Neuroanat 2010; 41:20-4. [PMID: 21056652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2010.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2010] [Revised: 10/28/2010] [Accepted: 10/28/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Age-dependent alteration in cellular signaling is implicated in the onset of age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). The gamma subtype of protein kinase C (PKCγ) is a PKC isoenzyme exclusively expressed in central nervous system but its potential role in the presbycusis remains unclear. Using two presbycusis-like animal models (C57BL/6J strain and BALB/c strain), the auditory thresholds were assessed by auditory brainstem response (ABR) in young (2-month-old), adult (8-month-old) and old (24-month-old) groups, and the localization and expression of PKCγ in the cochlear nucleus (CN) was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and Real-Time PCR. The results showed that PKCγ immmunoreactive (-ir) neurons were mainly concentrated in the molecular layer and fusiform layer of the dorsal CN (DCN) and their number was increased significantly with aging (p<0.05). Moreover, compared with 2-month-old mice, PKCγ expression in the CN at both protein and mRNA levels was significantly increased in the 8-month-old mice and 24-month-old mice (p<0.05). Thus our findings demonstrate a potential link between the increased PKCγ expression and the age-related hearing loss in these mice, suggesting novel strategies for the prevention and therapy of age-associated auditory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Zhen Kou
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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34
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Ohlemiller KK, Dahl AR, Gagnon PM. Divergent aging characteristics in CBA/J and CBA/CaJ mouse cochleae. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2010; 11:605-23. [PMID: 20706857 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-010-0228-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Two inbred mouse strains, CBA/J and CBA/CaJ, have been used nearly interchangeably as 'good hearing' standards for research in hearing and deafness. We recently reported, however, that these two strains diverge after 1 year of age, such that CBA/CaJ mice show more rapid elevation of compound action potential (CAP) thresholds at high frequencies (Ohlemiller, Brain Res. 1277: 70-83, 2009). One contributor is progressive decline in endocochlear potential (EP) that appears only in CBA/CaJ. Here, we explore the cellular bases of threshold and EP disparities in old CBA/J and CBA/CaJ mice. Among the major findings, both strains exhibit a characteristic age (∼18 months in CBA/J and 24 months in CBA/CaJ) when females overtake males in sensitivity decline. Strain differences in progression of hearing loss are not due to greater hair cell loss in CBA/CaJ, but instead appear to reflect greater neuronal loss, plus more pronounced changes in the lateral wall, leading to EP decline. While both male and female CBA/CaJ show these pathologies, they are more pronounced in females. A novel feature that differed sharply by strain was moderate loss of outer sulcus cells (or 'root' cells) in spiral ligament of the upper basal turn in old CBA/CaJ mice, giving rise to deep indentations and void spaces in the ligament. We conclude that CBA/CaJ mice differ both quantitatively and qualitatively from CBA/J in age-related cochlear pathology, and model different types of presbycusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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35
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Recanzone GH, Engle JR, Juarez-Salinas DL. Spatial and temporal processing of single auditory cortical neurons and populations of neurons in the macaque monkey. Hear Res 2010; 271:115-22. [PMID: 20430079 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2010.03.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2009] [Revised: 03/26/2010] [Accepted: 03/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The auditory cortex is known to be a necessary neural structure for the perception of acoustic signals, particularly the spatial location and the temporal features of complex auditory stimuli. Previous studies have indicated that there is no topographic map of acoustic space in the auditory cortex and it has been proposed that spatial locations are represented by some sort of population code. Additionally, in spite of temporal processing deficits being one of the hallmark consequences of normal aging, the temporal coding of acoustic stimuli remains poorly understood. This report will address these two issues by discussing the results from several studies describing responses of single auditory cortical neurons in the non-human primate. First, we will review studies that have addressed potential spike-rate population codes of acoustic space in the caudal belt of auditory cortex. Second, we will present new data on the neuronal responses to gap stimuli in aged monkeys and compare them to published reports of gap detection thresholds. Together these studies indicate that the alert macaque monkey is an excellent model system to study both spatial and temporal processing in the auditory cortex at the single neuron level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg H Recanzone
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California at Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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36
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Turner J, Hughes LF, Toth LA. Sleep, activity, temperature and arousal responses of mice deficient for muscarinic receptor M2 or M4. Life Sci 2009; 86:158-69. [PMID: 19958780 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2009.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Revised: 11/18/2009] [Accepted: 11/23/2009] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The type 2 muscarinic receptor (M2R) differs from the other G-protein-coupled muscarinic receptor (type 4, or M4R) in tissue distribution and physiologic effects. We studied the impact of these receptors on sleep and arousal by using M2R and M4R knock-out (KO) mice. MAIN METHODS M2R and M4R KO and genetically intact mice were compared in terms of normal patterns of sleep, responses to sleep loss, infectious challenge and acoustic startle, and acoustic prepulse inhibition of startle (PPI). KEY FINDINGS Under basal conditions, M2R and M4R KO mice do not differ from the background strain or each other in the amount or diurnal pattern of sleep, locomotor activity, and body temperature. After enforced sleep loss, M2R KO mice, in contrast to the other two strains, show no rebound in slow-wave sleep (SWS) time, although their SWS is consolidated, and they show a greater rebound in time spent in REMS (rapid-eye-movement sleep) and REMS consolidation. During influenza infection, M2R KO mice, as compared with the other strains, show marked hypothermia and a less robust increase in SWS. During Candida albicans infection, M2R KO mice show a greater increase in SWS and a greater inflammatory response than do the other strains. M2R KO mice also show greater acoustic startle amplitude than does the background strain, although PPI was not different across the 3 strains over a range of stimulus intensities. SIGNIFICANCE Taken together, these findings support different roles for M2R and M4R in the modulation of sleep and arousal during homeostatic challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Turner
- Department of Psychology, Illinois College Jacksonville, IL 62650, USA
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37
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Brooks SP, Dunnett SB. Tests to assess motor phenotype in mice: a user's guide. Nat Rev Neurosci 2009; 10:519-29. [DOI: 10.1038/nrn2652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 430] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Norcross M, Poonam M, Enoch AJ, Karlsson RM, Brigman JL, Cameron HA, Harvey-White J, Holmes A, Holmes A. Effects of adolescent fluoxetine treatment on fear-, anxiety- or stress-related behaviors in C57BL/6J or BALB/cJ mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2008; 200:413-24. [PMID: 18594797 PMCID: PMC2574726 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-008-1215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2007] [Accepted: 05/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) plays a major role in brain ontogeny. Disruption of 5-HT during early postnatal development produces lasting changes in rodent 'emotion-related' behaviors. Adverse effects of treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants have been reported in human adolescents. However, the long-term effects of chronic SRI treatment during adolescence in rodents remain unclear. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study are to assess the effects of fluoxetine treatment throughout the adolescent period in measures of fear-, anxiety- and stress-related endpoints in drug-free adults and to examine these effects in two genetic strains of mice differing in baseline stress- and anxiety-related behaviors and sensitivity to SRIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice received one of two fluoxetine doses for 4 weeks during adolescence (3-7 weeks old). A separate group of C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice received fluoxetine for 4 weeks during adulthood (8-12 weeks old). After a 3-week washout period, mice were tested for anxiety-like behaviors (novel open field, elevated plus-maze), fear conditioning and extinction, and stress-related responses to forced swim, as well as serotonin brain levels. RESULTS Adolescent fluoxetine treatment did not increase adult measures of anxiety-, fear- or stress-related behaviors, or brain serotonin levels. The same duration of treatment in adulthood also had no effects on these measures when tested after a 3-week washout period. CONCLUSIONS In clear contrast with emotion-related abnormalities caused by preadolescent fluoxetine treatment or genetic inactivation of fluoxetine's pharmacological target, the 5-HT transporter, fluoxetine treatment throughout mouse adolescence did not produce detectable, lasting abnormalities in either "high" or "low anxiety" inbred mouse strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxine Norcross
- Section on Behavioral Science and Genetics, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 2N09, Rockville, MD 20852-9411, USA
| | - Mathur Poonam
- Section on Behavioral Science and Genetics, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 2N09, Rockville, MD 20852-9411, USA
| | - Abigail J. Enoch
- Section on Behavioral Science and Genetics, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 2N09, Rockville, MD 20852-9411, USA
| | - Rose-Marie Karlsson
- Laboratory of Translational and Clinical Studies, Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan L. Brigman
- Section on Behavioral Science and Genetics, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 2N09, Rockville, MD 20852-9411, USA
| | - Heather A. Cameron
- Unit on Neuroplasticity, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Judith Harvey-White
- Laboratory for Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Section on Behavioral Science and Genetics, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 2N09, Rockville, MD 20852-9411, USA, e-mail:
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Wang J, Menchenton T, Yin S, Yu Z, Bance M, Morris DP, Moore CS, Korneluk RG, Robertson GS. Over-expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein slows presbycusis in C57BL/6J mice. Neurobiol Aging 2008; 31:1238-49. [PMID: 18755525 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Revised: 07/05/2008] [Accepted: 07/23/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis of cochlear cells plays a significant role in age-related hearing loss or presbycusis. In this study, we evaluated whether over-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein known as X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (XIAP) slows the development of presbycusis. We compared the age-related hearing loss between transgenic (TG) mice that over-express human XIAP tagged with 6-Myc (Myc-XIAP) on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background with wild-type (WT) littermates by measuring auditory brainstem responses. The result showed that TG mice developed hearing loss considerably more slowly than WT littermates, primarily within the high-frequency range. The average total hair cell loss was significantly less in TG mice than WT littermates. Although levels of Myc-XIAP in the ear remained constant at 2 and 14 months, there was a marked increase in the amount of endogenous XIAP from 2 to 14 months in the cochlea, but not in the brain, in both genotypes. These results suggest that XIAP over-expression reduces age-related hearing loss and hair cell death in the cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- The Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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40
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Age-related auditory pathology in the CBA/J mouse. Hear Res 2008; 243:87-94. [PMID: 18573325 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2008.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Revised: 05/15/2008] [Accepted: 06/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Commercially obtained aged male CBA/J mice presented a complex pattern of hearing loss and morphological changes. A significant threshold shift in auditory brainstem responses (ABR) occurred at 3 months of age at 4 kHz without apparent loss of hair cells, rising slowly at later ages accompanied by loss of apical hair cells. A delayed high-frequency deficit started at 24 kHz around the age of 12 months. At 20-26 months, threshold shifts at 12 and 24 kHz and the accompanying hair cell loss at the base of the cochlea were highly variable with some animals appearing almost normal and others showing large deficits. Spiral ganglion cells degenerated by 18 months in all regions of the cochlea, with cell density reduced by approximately 25%. There was no degeneration of the stria vascularis and the endocochlear potential remained stable from 3 to 25 months of age regardless of whether the animals had normal or highly elevated ABR thresholds. The slow high-frequency hearing loss combined with a modest reduction of ganglion cell density and an unchanged endocochlear potential suggest sensorineural presbycusis. The superimposed early hearing loss at low frequencies, which is not seen in animals bred in-house, may complicate the use of these animals as a presbycusis model.
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41
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Kaneda H, Taguma K, Suzuki C, Ozaki A, Nakamura C, Hachisu A, Kobayashi K, Wakana S, Shiroishi T. An optimal embryo transfer condition for the effective production of DBA/2J mice. Exp Anim 2008; 56:385-8. [PMID: 18075200 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.56.385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The DBA/2J mouse strain is a standard laboratory strain that is widely used for biomedical research. This strain, however, suffers from poor reproductive performance. In addition, the conditions for reliable embryo transfer (ET) of this strain have not been elucidated. The intention of this study was to determine the optimal number of embryos for transfer that allow the effective production of DBA/2J offspring. In the experiment, 7 to 15 embryos per oviduct were transferred into pseudopregnant ICR females. A relatively high success rate for pup production was observed when a large number of DBA/2J embryos (30 embryos per female) were transferred. This result shows that the ET efficiency of the DBA/2J strain can be improved by increasing the number of transferred embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Kaneda
- Functional Genomics Research Group, RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center, Ibaraki, Japan
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42
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A locus on distal chromosome 10 (ahl4) affecting age-related hearing loss in A/J mice. Neurobiol Aging 2008; 30:1693-705. [PMID: 18280008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2007.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2007] [Revised: 11/09/2007] [Accepted: 12/14/2007] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The ahl locus, shown to be a strain-specific Cdh23 dimorphism, contributes to age-related hearing loss in many inbred mouse strains. A/J mice begin to lose hearing by 4 weeks of age, much earlier than C57BL/6J (B6) mice, although both strains have the same Cdh23(ahl) variant. Here, we use recombinant inbred strains, chromosome substitution strains, and a linkage backcross to map a locus on distal Chromosome 10, designated ahl4, that contributes to the early-onset hearing loss of A/J mice. Cochleae of 9-week-old A/J mice exhibit inner and outer hair cell loss from the basal turn through the apical turn, with outer hair cell loss at the base being severest. To quantify the progression of hair cell loss, cytocochleograms were evaluated from 0 to 20 weeks of age. A/J mice showed evidence of hair cell loss in the base of the cochlea as early as 14 days of age and the magnitude and extent of loss increased rapidly during the following 2-5 months. Hair cell loss occurred earlier and was much more severe and widespread in A/J mice than in B6 mice during the first 5 months of age. Spiral ganglion neurons, cells of the stria vascularis, and vestibular hair cell densities, however, appeared normal in 20-week-old A/J mice.
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43
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Saul SM, Brzezinski JA, Altschuler RA, Shore SE, Rudolph DD, Kabara LL, Halsey KE, Hufnagel RB, Zhou J, Dolan DF, Glaser T. Math5 expression and function in the central auditory system. Mol Cell Neurosci 2007; 37:153-69. [PMID: 17977745 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2007.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2007] [Revised: 09/04/2007] [Accepted: 09/07/2007] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Math5 (Atoh7) is required for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and optic nerve development. Using Math5-lacZ knockout mice, we have identified an additional expression domain for Math5 outside the eye, in functionally connected structures of the central auditory system. In the adult hindbrain, the cytoplasmic Math5-lacZ reporter is expressed within the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), in a subpopulation of neurons that project to medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), lateral superior olive (LSO), and lateral lemniscus (LL). These cells were identified as globular and small spherical bushy cells based on their morphology, abundance, distribution within the cochlear nucleus (CN), co-expression of Kv1.1, Kv3.1b and Kcnq4 potassium channels, and projection patterns within the auditory brainstem. Math5-lacZ is also expressed by cochlear root neurons in the auditory nerve. During embryonic development, Math5-lacZ was detected in precursor cells emerging from the caudal rhombic lip from embryonic day (E)12 onwards, consistent with the time course of CN neurogenesis. These cells co-express MafB and are post-mitotic. Math5 expression in the CN was verified by mRNA in situ hybridization, and the identity of positive neurons was confirmed morphologically using a Math5-Cre BAC transgene with an alkaline phosphatase reporter. The hindbrains of Math5 mutants appear grossly normal, with the exception of the CN. Although overall CN dimensions are unchanged, the lacZ-positive cells are significantly smaller in Math5 -/- mice compared to Math5 +/- mice, suggesting these neurons may function abnormally. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) of Math5 mutants was evaluated in a BALB/cJ congenic background. ABR thresholds of Math5 -/- mice were similar to those of wild-type and heterozygous mice, but the interpeak latencies for Peaks II-IV were significantly altered. These temporal changes are consistent with a higher-level auditory processing disorder involving the CN, potentially affecting the integration of binaural sensory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Saul
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Van Eyken E, Van Camp G, Van Laer L. The complexity of age-related hearing impairment: contributing environmental and genetic factors. Audiol Neurootol 2007; 12:345-58. [PMID: 17664866 DOI: 10.1159/000106478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2006] [Accepted: 05/18/2007] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is the most common sensory impairment seen in the elderly. It is a complex disorder, with both environmental as well as genetic factors contributing to the impairment. The involvement of several environmental factors has been partially elucidated. A first step towards the identification of the genetic factors has been made, which will result in the identification of susceptibility genes, and will provide possible targets for the future treatment and/or prevention of ARHI. This paper aims to give a broad overview of the scientific findings related to ARHI, focusing mainly on environmental and genetic data in humans and in animal models. In addition, methods for the identification of contributing genetic factors as well as possible future therapeutic strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Van Eyken
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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45
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Idrizbegovic E, Salman H, Niu X, Canlon B. Presbyacusis and calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity in the cochlear nucleus of BALB/c mice. Hear Res 2007; 216-217:198-206. [PMID: 16874908 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2006.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The BALB/c mouse is an established model for the early development of sensorineural hearing loss, and is homozygous for the Ahl allele (age-related hearing loss). The present study was designed to determine how auditory peripheral pathology influences calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity in the cochlear nucleus in aged BALB/c mice. To address this issue the loss of hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), and neurons in the dorsal (DCN) and posteroventral (PVCN) cochlear nucleus of BALB/c mice at 1 and 24 months of age were quantified using CAST stereological methods. These values were then compared to the percent increase in immunopositive calcium-binding proteins in the cochlear nucleus. By 24 months of age there was a near complete loss of all outer hair cells (OHC). The inner hair cell (IHC) loss was near complete in the more apical and basal regions, while in the mid-regions approximately 50% were missing. The SGN in the apical and middle turns show a 20% loss (re: 1 month) and the basal turn up to 80% loss. A statistically significant decrease in the density of DCN and PVCN neurons (25%) was found at 24 months of age compared to the one month old animals. The percentage of parvalbumin and calretinin positive neurons in the DCN and the PVCN in relation to the density of Nissl stained neurons showed significant increases at 24 months compared to the 1 month old animals. We also determine the relationship between peripheral pathology and the percent increase in calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity. In the DCN, the percent increase of calretinin and parvalbumin was correlated to the loss of SGN, IHCs and OHCs. In the PVCN, parvalbumin was correlated to SGN, IHC, and OHC loss. The percent increase in calbindin immunoreactivity was not correlated to any peripheral pathology. The data here suggest a percent increase in calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity in the cochlea nucleus in the 24 month old mice may reflect an endogenous protective strategy that is designed to counteract calcium overload that is prominent during aging and degeneration. These results will be valuable for understanding the relationship among the peripheral and central auditory system in a model demonstrating a rapidly progressive presbyacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esma Idrizbegovic
- Department of Audiology Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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46
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Jacobson LH, Cryan JF. Feeling strained? Influence of genetic background on depression-related behavior in mice: a review. Behav Genet 2006; 37:171-213. [PMID: 17029009 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-006-9106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Accepted: 08/11/2006] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a growing pandemic in developed societies. The use of inbred mouse strains in pre-clinical psychiatric research has proven to be a valuable resource. Firstly, they provide the background for genetic manipulations that aid in the discovery of molecular pathways that may be involved in major depression. Further, inbred mouse strains are also being used in the determination of genetic and environmental influences that may pre-dispose or trigger depression-related behavior. This review aims to highlight the utility of inbred mouse strains in depression research, while providing an overview of the current state of research into behavioral differences between strains in paradigms commonly used in the field. Neurochemical differences that may underlie strain differences are examined, and some caveats and cautions associated with the use of inbred strains are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H Jacobson
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland
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47
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Sumien N, Sims MN, Taylor HJ, Forster MJ. Profiling psychomotor and cognitive aging in four-way cross mice. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2006; 28:265-82. [PMID: 22253494 PMCID: PMC3259154 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-006-9015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2006] [Revised: 08/31/2006] [Accepted: 08/31/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
In part due to their genetic uniformity and stable characteristics, inbred rodents or their F1 progeny are frequently used to study brain aging. However, it is recognized that focus on a single genotype could lead to generalizations about brain aging that might not apply to the species as a whole, or to the human population. As a potential alternative to uniform genotypes, genetically heterogeneous (HET) mice, produced by a four-way cross, were tested in the current study to determine if they exhibit age-related declines in cognitive and psychomotor function similar to other rodent models of brain aging. Young (4 months) and older (23 months) CB6F1 × C3D2F1 mice were administered a variety of tests for cognitive, psychomotor, and sensory/reflexive capacities. Spontaneous locomotion, rearing, and ability to turn in an alley all decreased with age, as did behavioral measures sensitive to muscle strength, balance, and motor coordination. Although no effect of age was found for either startle response amplitude or reaction time to shock stimuli, the old mice reacted with less force to low intensity auditory stimuli. When tested on a spatial swim maze task, the old mice learned less efficiently, exhibited poorer retention after a 66-h delay, and demonstrated greater difficulty learning a new spatial location. In addition, the older mice were less able to learn the platform location when it was identified by a local visual cue. Because there was a significant correlation between spatial and cued discrimination performance in the old mice, it is possible that age-related spatial maze learning deficits could involve visual or motor impairments. Variation among individuals increased with age for most tests of psychomotor function, as well as for spatial swim performance, suggesting that four-way cross mice may be appropriate models of individualized brain aging. However, the analysis of spatial maze learning deficits in older CB6F1 × C3D2F1 mice may have limited applicability in the study of brain aging, because of a confounding with visually cued performance deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Sumien
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA
| | - Micaela N. Sims
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA
| | - Hilary J. Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA
| | - Michael J. Forster
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Institute for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA
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48
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Ohlemiller KK, Lett JM, Gagnon PM. Cellular correlates of age-related endocochlear potential reduction in a mouse model. Hear Res 2006; 220:10-26. [PMID: 16901664 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2006.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2006] [Revised: 06/18/2006] [Accepted: 06/30/2006] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Age-related degeneration of cochlear stria vascularis and resulting reduction in the endocochlear potential (EP) are the hallmark features of strial presbycusis, one of the major forms of presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss (ARHL) (Schuknecht, H.F., 1964. Further observations on the pathology of presbycusis. Archives of Otolaryngology 80, 369-382; Schuknecht, H.F., 1993. Pathology of the Ear. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia; Schuknecht, H.F., Gacek, M.R., 1993. Cochlear pathology in presbycusis. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 102, 1-16). It is unclear whether there are multiple forms of strial ARHL having different sequences of degenerative events and different risk factors. Human temporal bone studies suggest that the initial pathology usually affects strial marginal cells, then spreads to other strial cell types. While inheritance studies support a moderate genetic influence, no contributing genes have been identified. Establishment of mouse models of strial ARHL may promote the identification of underlying genes and gene/environment interactions. We have found that BALB/cJ mice show significant EP reduction by 19 months of age. The reduction only occurs in a subset of animals. To identify key anatomical correlates of the EP reduction, we compared several cochlear lateral wall metrics in BALBs with those in C57BL/6J (B6) mice, which show little EP reduction for ages up to 26 months. Among the measures obtained, marginal cell density and spiral ligament thickness were the best predictors of both the EP decline in BALBs, and EP stability in B6. Our results indicate that the sequence of strial degeneration in BALBs is like that suggested for humans. Additional strain comparisons we have performed suggest that genes governing strial melanin production do not play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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49
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Ohlemiller KK. Contributions of mouse models to understanding of age- and noise-related hearing loss. Brain Res 2006; 1091:89-102. [PMID: 16631134 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2005] [Revised: 03/06/2006] [Accepted: 03/08/2006] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Once an oddity, mice have become the most widely used hearing research model. Their value for research in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) stems from their high vulnerability to noise and reduced variance of results, made possible by genetic standardization. To research in age-related hearing loss (ARHL), they offer economies of small size and a short lifespan, both of which reduce housing costs. Inbred mouse strains show a wide range of noise sensitivities and rates of hearing loss with age. These can be studied using classical genetic analysis, as well as hypothesis-driven experiments utilizing genetic engineering. Through such investigations, presently 3 loci have been identified to date that contribute to NIHL, 10 that promote ARHL, and at least 6 loci that promote both. The types of genes involved implicate homeostatic and protective mechanisms as key to the appearance of either type of pathology and support a causal link between injury and some apparent ARHL. While the majority of mouse ARHL models examined most closely resemble sensory ARHL, recent work has identified mice possessing the essential characteristics of neural and strial ARHL. Using these models, it should be possible to identify genes and alleles that promote the major forms of ARHL and their combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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50
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Zhou X, Jen PHS, Seburn KL, Frankel WN, Zheng QY. Auditory brainstem responses in 10 inbred strains of mice. Brain Res 2006; 1091:16-26. [PMID: 16516865 PMCID: PMC2859191 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.01.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2005] [Revised: 01/17/2006] [Accepted: 01/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is an evoked potential response of auditory activity in the auditory nerve and subsequent fiber tracts and nuclei within the auditory brainstem pathways. The threshold, amplitude, and latency analysis of the ABR provides information on the peripheral hearing status and the integrity of brainstem pathways. In this study, we compared the threshold, amplitude, and latency of ABRs recorded from 149 mice of 10 commonly used inbred strains (BALB/cJ, C3HeB/FeJ, C3H/HeJ, CAST/EiJ, CBA/CaJ, CBA/J, FVB/NJ, MRL/MpJ, NZB/BlNJ, and SJL/J) using clicks of different intensities. The ABR thresholds of these strains ranged from 32 to 43 dB SPL. The amplitude of both waves I and IV of ABRs, which increased monotonically with click intensity in most strains, differed significantly among different strains at each intensity tested. Moreover, the amplitude of both waves was inversely correlated with the body weight of each strain at most intensities tested. In general, the amplitude of wave IV was smaller than that of wave I resulting in the IV/I amplitude ratio of <1.0 in all strains. The peak latency of both waves I and IV decreased significantly with click intensity in each strain. However, this intensity-dependent decrease was greater for wave IV than for wave I such that the wave I-IV inter-peak latency also decreased significantly with increasing intensity. I-IV inter-peak latencies for MRL/MpJ, C3HeB/FeJ, NZB/BlNJ, and C3H/HeJ strains are longer than FVB/NJ, SJL/J, or CAST/EiJ. This work is the first step to study the genetic basis underlying strain-related differences in auditory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, PR China
- Division of Biological Sciences and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Philip H.-S. Jen
- Division of Biological Sciences and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kevin L. Seburn
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Wayne N. Frankel
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Qing Y. Zheng
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Otolaryngology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Fax: +1 216 844 5727. (Q.Y. Zheng)
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