A method for the induction of a cochlea-specific auditory deprivation in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
The neurophysiological effects of early electrical stimulation on the development and neural plasticity of the central auditory system in prelingually deafened children with cochlear implants are still unknown. Many of these basic questions can be answered systematically only in animal experiments. Meriones unguiculatus is a well-established animal model in hearing research. Deafening is produced by a single intracochlear application of an ototoxic aminoglycoside antibiotic (neomycin sulfate) on the 14th day after birth (DAB), i.e. before the late natural onset of hearing on the 16th DAB. A single application of the antibiotic abolishes auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to clicks completely and reduces sensitivity to low frequency tonebursts by 50 dB SPL. Scanning electron microscopy results show a destruction of the stereocilia of the inner and outer hair cells of the basal and medial cochlear turn and a reduction of those in the apical turn. Our method avoids a systemic application of antibiotics and can be used in studies dealing with the consequences of different forms of auditory deprivation, neuronal compensation processes or with ontogenetic studies and chronic electrostimulation in an animal model.
Hessel
H
H
ENT University Hospital, University of Cologne, Germany. horst.hessel@uni-koeln.de
Walger
M
M
Ernst
S
S
Foerst
A
A
von Wedel
H
H
Klünter
H D
HD
Walkowiak
W
W
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009355:Neomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009355:Neomycin