scholarly journals Preventing presbycusis in mice with enhanced medial olivocochlear feedback

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 11811-11819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis E. Boero ◽  
Valeria C. Castagna ◽  
Gonzalo Terreros ◽  
Marcelo J. Moglie ◽  
Sebastián Silva ◽  
...  

“Growing old” is the most common cause of hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) (presbycusis) first affects the ability to understand speech in background noise, even when auditory thresholds in quiet are normal. It has been suggested that cochlear denervation (“synaptopathy”) is an early contributor to age-related auditory decline. In the present work, we characterized age-related cochlear synaptic degeneration and hair cell loss in mice with enhanced α9α10 cholinergic nicotinic receptors gating kinetics (“gain of function” nAChRs). These mediate inhibitory olivocochlear feedback through the activation of associated calcium-gated potassium channels. Cochlear function was assessed via distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses. Cochlear structure was characterized in immunolabeled organ of Corti whole mounts using confocal microscopy to quantify hair cells, auditory neurons, presynaptic ribbons, and postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Aged wild-type mice had elevated acoustic thresholds and synaptic loss. Afferent synapses were lost from inner hair cells throughout the aged cochlea, together with some loss of outer hair cells. In contrast, cochlear structure and function were preserved in aged mice with gain-of-function nAChRs that provide enhanced olivocochlear inhibition, suggesting that efferent feedback is important for long-term maintenance of inner ear function. Our work provides evidence that olivocochlear-mediated resistance to presbycusis-ARHL occurs via the α9α10 nAChR complexes on outer hair cells. Thus, enhancement of the medial olivocochlear system could be a viable strategy to prevent age-related hearing loss.

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi OKUMURA ◽  
Yuki MIYASAKA ◽  
Yuka MORITA ◽  
Tomoyuki NOMURA ◽  
Yukio MISHIMA ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 326-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuhong Huang ◽  
Hao Xiong ◽  
Haidi Yang ◽  
Yongkang Ou ◽  
Zhigang Zhang ◽  
...  

Bcl-2, the first gene shown to be involved in apoptosis, is a potent regulator of cell survival and known to have protective effects against a variety of age-related diseases. However, the possible relationship between hearing and Bcl-2 expression in the cochlea or auditory cortex of C57BL/6 mice, a mouse model of age-related hearing loss, is still unknown. Using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis, our results show that Bcl-2 is strongly expressed in the inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons of young mice. In addition, moderate Bcl-2 expression is also detected in the outer hair cells and in the neurons of the auditory cortex. A significant reduction of Bcl-2 expression in the cochlea or auditory cortex is also associated with elevated hearing thresholds and hair cell loss during aging. The expression pattern of Bcl-2 in the peripheral and central auditory systems suggests that Bcl-2 may play an important role in auditory function serving as a protective molecule against age-related hearing loss.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 927 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Charles Liberman

The classic view of sensorineural hearing loss has been that the primary damage targets are hair cells and that auditory nerve loss is typically secondary to hair cell degeneration. Recent work has challenged that view. In noise-induced hearing loss, exposures causing only reversible threshold shifts (and no hair cell loss) nevertheless cause permanent loss of >50% of the synaptic connections between hair cells and the auditory nerve. Similarly, in age-related hearing loss, degeneration of cochlear synapses precedes both hair cell loss and threshold elevation. This primary neural degeneration has remained a “hidden hearing loss” for two reasons: 1) the neuronal cell bodies survive for years despite loss of synaptic connection with hair cells, and 2) the degeneration is selective for auditory nerve fibers with high thresholds. Although not required for threshold detection when quiet, these high-threshold fibers are critical for hearing in noisy environments. Research suggests that primary neural degeneration is an important contributor to the perceptual handicap in sensorineural hearing loss, and it may be key to the generation of tinnitus and other associated perceptual anomalies. In cases where the hair cells survive, neurotrophin therapies can elicit neurite outgrowth from surviving auditory neurons and re-establishment of their peripheral synapses; thus, treatments may be on the horizon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Wang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Cuiyun Cai ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Ruosha Lai

AbstractDamage to the cochlear sensory epithelium is a key contributor to noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). KCNQ4 plays an important role in the cochlear potassium circulation and outer hair cells survival. As miR-153 can target and regulate KCNQ4, we sought to study the role of miR-153 in SNHL. 12-week-old male CBA/J mice were exposed to 2–20 kHz broadband noise at 96 dB SPL to induce temporary threshold shifts and 101 dB SPL to induce permanent threshold shifts. Hearing loss was determined by auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Relative expression of miR-153 and KCNQ4 in mice cochlea were determined by Real-Time quantitative PCR. miR-153 mimics were co-transfected with wild type or mutated KCNQ4 into HEK293 cells. Luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the binding between miR-153 and KCNQ4. AAV-sp-153 was constructed and administrated intra-peritoneally 24- and 2-h prior and immediately after noise exposure to knockdown miR-153. The KCNQ4 is mainly expressed in outer hair cells (OHCs). We showed that the expression of KCNQ4 in mice cochlea was reduced and miR-153 expression was significantly increased after noise exposure compared to control. miR-153 bound to 3′UTR of KNCQ4, and the knockdown of miR-153 with the AAV-sp-153 administration restored KCNQ4 mRNA and protein expression. In addition, the knockdown of miR-153 reduced ABR threshold shifts at 8, 16, and 32 kHz after permanent threshold shifts (PTS) noise exposure. Correspondingly, OHC losses were attenuated with inhibition of miR-153. This study demonstrates that miR-153 inhibition significantly restores KNCQ4 in cochlea after noise exposure, which attenuates SNHL. Our study provides a new potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of SNHL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie K. Climer ◽  
Aubrey J. Hornak ◽  
Kaitlin Murtha ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
...  

Ca2+ signaling is a major contributor to sensory hair cell function in the cochlea. Oncomodulin (OCM) is a Ca2+ binding protein (CaBP) preferentially expressed in outer hair cells (OHCs) of the cochlea and few other specialized cell types. Here, we expand on our previous reports and show that OCM delays hearing loss in mice of two different genetic backgrounds: CBA/CaJ and C57Bl/6J. In both backgrounds, genetic disruption of Ocm leads to early progressive hearing loss as measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). In both strains, loss of Ocm reduced hearing across lifetime (hearing span) by more than 50% relative to wild type (WT). Even though the two WT strains have very different hearing spans, OCM plays a considerable and similar role within their genetic environment to regulate hearing function. The accelerated age-related hearing loss (ARHL) of the Ocm KO illustrates the importance of Ca2+ signaling in maintaining hearing health. Manipulation of OCM and Ca2+ signaling may reveal important clues to the systems of function/dysfunction that lead to ARHL.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258158
Author(s):  
Neil J. Ingham ◽  
Navid Banafshe ◽  
Clarisse Panganiban ◽  
Julia L. Crunden ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  

Age-related hearing loss in humans (presbycusis) typically involves impairment of high frequency sensitivity before becoming progressively more severe at lower frequencies. Pathologies initially affecting lower frequency regions of hearing are less common. Here we describe a progressive, predominantly low-frequency recessive hearing impairment in two mutant mouse lines carrying different mutant alleles of the Klhl18 gene: a spontaneous missense mutation (Klhl18lowf) and a targeted mutation (Klhl18tm1a(KOMP)Wtsi). Both males and females were studied, and the two mutant lines showed similar phenotypes. Threshold for auditory brainstem responses (ABR; a measure of auditory nerve and brainstem neural activity) were normal at 3 weeks old but showed progressive increases from 4 weeks onwards. In contrast, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) sensitivity and amplitudes (a reflection of cochlear outer hair cell function) remained normal in mutants. Electrophysiological recordings from the round window of Klhl18lowf mutants at 6 weeks old revealed 1) raised compound action potential thresholds that were similar to ABR thresholds, 2) cochlear microphonic potentials that were normal compared with wildtype and heterozygous control mice and 3) summating potentials that were reduced in amplitude compared to control mice. Scanning electron microscopy showed that Klhl18lowf mutant mice had abnormally tapering of the tips of inner hair cell stereocilia in the apical half of the cochlea while their synapses appeared normal. These results suggest that Klhl18 is necessary to maintain inner hair cell stereocilia and normal inner hair cell function at low frequencies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 2368-2383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetyana Chumak ◽  
Romana Bohuslavova ◽  
Iva Macova ◽  
Nicole Dodd ◽  
Daniela Buckiova ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ira Strübing ◽  
Moritz Gröschel ◽  
Susanne Schwitzer ◽  
Arne Ernst ◽  
Felix Fröhlich ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The preservation of residual hearing has become an important consideration in cochlear implant (CI) recipients in recent years. It was the aim of the present animal experimental study to investigate the influence of a pretreatment with near-infrared (NIR) light on preservation of sensory hair cells and residual hearing after cochlear implantation. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> NIR was applied unilaterally (15 min, 808 nm, 120 mW) to 8 guinea pigs, immediately before a bilateral scala tympani CI electrode insertion was performed. The nonirradiated (contralateral) side served as control. Twenty-eight days postoperatively, auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were registered from both ears to screen for hearing loss. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs) were counted and compared between NIR-pretreated and control (contralateral) cochleae. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was no IHC loss upon cochlear implantation. OHC loss was most prominent on both sides at the apical part of the cochlea. NIR pretreatment led to a statistically significant reduction in OHC loss (by 39.8%). ABR recordings (across the frequencies 4–32 kHz) showed a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups and corresponds well with the apical structural damage. Hearing loss was reduced by about 20 dB on average for the NIR-pretreated group (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> A single NIR pretreatment in this animal model of CI surgery appears to be neuroprotective for residual hearing. This is in line with other studies where several NIR posttreatments have protected cochlear and other neural tissues. NIR pretreatment is an inexpensive, effective, and noninvasive approach that can complement other ways of preserving residual hearing and, hence, should deserve further clinical evaluation in CI patients.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Tavanai ◽  
Ghassem Mohammadkhani

The D-galactose induced mimetic aging rat model has been widely used in studies of age-associated diseases recently. Evidence indicates that D-GAL could also play a key role in age-related hearing loss. However, there is conflicting data about the relationship between the D-GAL injection and tone-burst auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). The present study aimed to compare ABRs in D-GAL injected rats compared with young and naturally aged rats. Tone-burst ABR was recorded and analyzed at the frequencies of 4,6,8,12 and 16 kHz in male young (3-month-old, n=10), naturally aging (18-month-old, n=10) and D-GAL injected (3-month-old, 500 mg/kg D-GAL injection for 8 weeks, n=10) Wistar rats. When the ABRs thresholds obtained in the D-GAL group and the natural aging group were compared with the thresholds in the young group, we observed a significant increase in thresholds, which affected all of the frequencies (P<0.05). A statistically significant decrease in amplitude of wave PI at 4 and 8 kHz, PII at 4,8 kHz, PIV at 4,6,8,12 and 16 kHz was also observed in naturally aging group compared with young group. However, in D-GAL group, a significant difference was exclusively detected in amplitude of PIII at 4 kHz. Latency did not reveal any significant difference between the groups (P>0.05). The present study confirmed that experimental injection of 500 mg/kg/day D-GAL for 8 weeks to Wistar rats could lead to ABRs threshold shifts but not latency. Because there are several types of presbycusis, further studies are needed to determine what type of presbycusis is induced by D-GAL and where is the first region affected by it to provide the best treatment and prevention methods. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Acta Med Iran 2019;57(5):281-288.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie K Climer ◽  
Aubrey J Hornak ◽  
Kaitlin Murtha ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Andrew M Cox ◽  
...  

Ca2+ signaling is a major contributor to sensory hair cell function in the cochlea. Oncomodulin (OCM) is a Ca2+ binding protein preferentially expressed in outer hair cells of the cochlea and few other specialized cell types. Here, we expand on our previous reports and show that OCM prevents early progressive hearing loss in mice of two different genetic backgrounds: CBA/CaJ and C57Bl/6J. In both backgrounds, genetic disruption of Ocm leads to early progressive hearing loss as measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). In both strains, loss of Ocm reduced hearing across lifetime (hearing span) by more than 50% relative to wild type (WT). Even though the two WT strains have very different hearing spans, OCM plays a considerable and similar role within their genetic environment to regulate hearing function. The accelerated ARHL of the Ocm KO illustrates the importance of Ca2+ signaling in maintaining hearing health.


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