title: Miniature pigs: a large animal model of cochlear implantation.
abstract: The objective of this paper was to investigate the suitability of the miniature pig as a large animal model of cochlear implantation (CI). Micro-CT scanning and three-dimensional reconstructions of the inner ear were completed in six animals. Photographs of the procedures and measurements of the inner ear were made. The CI procedure was simulated in 10 animals. Electrically evoked auditory brain stem responses (EABRs) and radiographic images were evaluated during or after the CI procedure. Morphological examination and measurements of inner ears of the miniature pigs were completed by micro-CT scanning. The height of the scala tympani was 873.12 µm in the 1st turn, 641.46 µm in the 2nd turn, 445.13 µm in the third turn and 339.19 µm in the fourth turn. The length of the cochlea was 38.6 mm, larger than other animal models (7.2 mm in rats and 22 mm in macaque, for example) and similar to that in the human (36 mm). Commercial electrodes used in humans (870 µm at the end and 630 µm at the tip in diameter) were implanted in the pig's cochlea, through which normal eABRs were obtained. Radiographic images after the CI procedure revealed electrodes located in the scala tympani of the first and second turns. Compared with traditional animal models, greater similarities of the inner ear between miniature pigs and humans make this animal a potentially useful model for CI studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Medical Center, Tsinghua University168 Litang Street, Changping District, Beijing, China; Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Institute of Otolaryngology of PLA, Chinese PLA General HospitalBeijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Haijin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Institute of Otolaryngology of PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Institute of Otolaryngology of PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Agro-Biotechnology, China Agricultural University Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Medical Center, Tsinghua University 168 Litang Street, Changping District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jingying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Institute of Otolaryngology of PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Micro-CT; Miniature pig; animal model; cochlear implantation; electrically evoked auditory brain stem responses