Methyl mercury ototoxicity in mice determined by auditory brainstem responses.
Mice of the C57 B1/6 strain were used to assess auditory deficits due to methyl mercury chloride intoxication. Auditory Brainstem Responses were obtained to pure-tone stimuli from 4 to 78 kHz. Physiologic thresholds were compared with behavioral methods for determining audibility in mice. Two dosage levels were studied; 4 and 8 mg/kg. Recordings were taken weekly, for each mouse, for 3 consecutive weeks after initial injection. Analysis of physiologic threshold and latency indicated that methyl mercury chloride causes auditory deficits at all frequencies tested with the greater effect in the higher frequencies. Additionally, latencies indicated nerve conduction hypersensitivity in the brainstem.
D000818:Animals; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; C004925:methylmercuric chloride