scholarly journals Developmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity in red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jichao Wang ◽  
Handong Li ◽  
Tongliang Wang ◽  
Bo Chen ◽  
Jianguo Cui ◽  
...  

AbstractDevelopmental plasticity of hearing sensitivity (DPHS) has been verified in some groups of vertebrates. Turtles face a trade-off between terrestrial and aquatic hearing in different acoustic environments throughout ontogeny. However, how chelonian hearing sensitivity changes throughout ontogeny is still unclear. To verify DPHS in turtles, auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were compared using hearing thresholds and latencies in female red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) aged 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years, and the results showed hearing sensitivity bandwidths of approximately 200–1100, 200–1100, 200–1300, and 200–1400 Hz, respectively. The lowest threshold sensitivity was approximately 600□Hz. Below 600 Hz, ABR threshold decreased rapidly with increasing age (1 week to 1 year), with significant differences between age groups, but no significant difference between the 1- and 5-year age groups (stimulus frequency, 200–600 Hz). Above 600 Hz, ABR threshold was the lowest in the 5-year age group. These findings show that aging was accompanied by hearing sensitivity changes, suggesting rapid, frequency-segmented development during ontogeny. This variability in hearing sensitivity differs from that reported in other vertebrates, and allows adaptation to acoustically distinct environments throughout ontogeny. Our findings further elucidate the developmental patterns of the vertebrate auditory system.

2019 ◽  
Vol 205 (6) ◽  
pp. 847-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongliang Wang ◽  
Handong Li ◽  
Jianguo Cui ◽  
Xiaofei Zhai ◽  
Haitao Shi ◽  
...  

Abstract Hearing sensitivity is of general interest from the perspective of understanding the functionality and evolution of vertebrate auditory systems. Sexual dimorphism of auditory systems has been reported in several species of vertebrates, but little is known about this phenomenon in turtles. Some morphological characteristics, such as middle ear and tympanic membrane that influence the hearing sensitivity of animals can result in hearing sexual dimorphism. To examine whether sexual dimorphism in hearing sensitivity occurs in turtles and to compare hearing characteristics with respect to the shape of the tympanic membrane, we measured the hearing sensitivity and tympanum diameter in both sexes of Trachemys scripta elegans. The results showed that, with the exception of 0.9 kHz, auditory brainstem response thresholds were significantly lower in females than in males for frequencies in the 0.2–1.1 kHz range, indicating that the hearing of females shows greater sensitivity. No significant differences were detected in the tympanum diameter of both sexes. These results showed that sexually dimorphic hearing sensitivity has evolved in turtles; however, this difference does not appear to be related to differences in the size of the tympanic membrane. The possible origin and function of the sexual differences in auditory characteristic are discussed.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahisa Funato ◽  
Hiroshi Tamai ◽  
Seiichi Shimada ◽  
Hajime Nakamura

Objective. The management of nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia in term newborns is controversial. To evaluate the usefulness of serum unbound bilirubin concentrations (UBCs) in the management of hyperbilirubinemia, we compared the concentrations with abnormal auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Methods. ABRs and serum UBCs in 37 hyperbilirubinemic term newborns (total bilirubin concentrations [TBCs] ≥20 mg/dL and direct bilirubin concentrations <2 mg/dL) were measured before treatment with either phototherapy or exchange transfusions. Eight of these newborns had blood incompatibilities. These hyperbilirubinemic newborns were divided into three groups according to the findings of ABR: group A, normal ABR (n = 18); group B, prolonged latency of wave I only (n = 8); and group C, prolonged interpeak latency of wave I-III/I-V and/or poor amplitude (n = 11). Results. The peak TBC was significantly different between groups A and C (22.8 ± 2.2 mg/dL and 25.4 ± 2.5 mg/dL, respectively; P < .05), though there were no differences between groups A and B and between groups B and C. The peak UBCs in groups B (1.27 ± 0.7 µg/dL) and C (1.34 ± 0.37 µg/dL) were significantly higher than in group A (0.78 ± 0.26 µg/dL) (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively), though there was no significant difference in the peak UBC between groups B and C. Abnormal ABR findings were more clearly associated with the level of UBC at 1.0 µg/dL than that of TBC at 23 mg/dL by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 16.6, P = .0026, vs 4.2, P = .1272). Conclusions. These results suggest that measuring UBC may help in evaluating the possible risk of bilirubin encephalopathy in full-term newborns when there is vigintiphobia (fear of 20).


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (06) ◽  
pp. 493-501
Author(s):  
Skylar Trott ◽  
Trey Cline ◽  
Jeffrey Weihing ◽  
Deidra Beshear ◽  
Matthew Bush ◽  
...  

AbstractEstrogen has been identified as playing a key role in many organ systems. Recently, estrogen has been found to be produced in the human brain and is believed contribute to central auditory processing. After menopause, a low estrogen state, many women report hearing loss but demonstrate no deficits in peripheral hearing sensitivity, which support the notion that estrogen plays an effect on central auditory processing. Although animal research on estrogen and hearing loss is extensive, there is little in the literature on the human model.The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between hormonal changes and hearing as it relates to higher auditory function in pre- and postmenopausal (Post-M) females.A prospective, group comparison study.Twenty eight women between the ages of 18 and 70 at the University of Kentucky were recruited.Participants were separated into premenopausal and peri-/Post-M groups. Participants had normal peripheral hearing sensitivity and underwent a behavioral auditory processing battery and electrophysiological evaluation. An analysis of variance was performed to address the aims of the study.Results from the study demonstrated statistically significant difference between groups, where Post-M females had difficulties in spatial hearing abilities as reflected on the Listening in Spatialized Noise Test–Sentences test. In addition, measures on the auditory brainstem response and the middle latency response reflected statistically significant differences between groups with Post-M females having longer latencies.Results from the present study demonstrated significant differences between groups, particularly listening in noise. Females who present with auditory complaints in spite of normal hearing thresholds should have a more extensive audiological evaluation to further evaluate possible central deficits.


Author(s):  
A K Neupane ◽  
S K Sinha ◽  
K Gururaj

Abstract Objective Binaural hearing is facilitated by neural interactions in the auditory pathway. Ageing results in impairment of localisation and listening in noisy situations without any significant hearing loss. The present study focused on comparing the binaural encoding of a speech stimulus at the subcortical level in middle-aged versus younger adults, based on speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses. Methods Thirty participants (15 young adults and 15 middle-aged adults) with normal hearing sensitivity (less than 15 dB HL) participated in the study. The speech-evoked auditory brainstem response was recorded monaurally and binaurally with a 40-ms /da/ stimulus. Fast Fourier transform analysis was utilised. Results An independent sample t-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups in fundamental frequency (F0) amplitude recorded with binaural stimulation. Conclusion The present study suggested that ageing results in degradation of F0 encoding, which is essential for the perception of speech in noise.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (09) ◽  
pp. 667-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley W. Harkrider ◽  
Joanna W. Tampas

Studies of acceptable noise level (ANL) consistently report large intersubject variability in acceptance of background noise while listening to speech. This variability is not related to age, gender, hearing sensitivity, type of background noise, speech perception in noise performance, or efferent activity of the medial olivocochlear pathway. An exploratory study was conducted to determine if differences in aggregate responses from the peripheral and central auditory system can account for intersubject variability in ANL. Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs), binaural auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and middle latency responses (MLRs) were measured in females with normal hearing with low (n = 6) versus high (n = 7) ANLs. Results of this preliminary study indicate no differences between the groups for CEOAEs or waves I or III of the ABR. Differences between the two groups emerge for the amplitudes of wave V of the ABR and for the Na-Pa component of the MLR, suggesting that physiological variations arising from more central regions of the auditory system may mediate background noise acceptance.


Author(s):  
Eriko Aiba ◽  
◽  
Koji Kazai ◽  
Takayuki Shimotomai ◽  
Toshie Matsui ◽  
...  

Synchrony judgment is one of the most important abilities for musicians. Only a few milliseconds of onset asynchrony result in a significant difference in musical expression. Using behavioural responses and Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR), this study investigates whether synchrony judgment accuracy improves with training and, if so, whether physiological responses are also changed through training. Psychoacoustic experiments showed that accuracy of synchrony judgment of pianists was higher than that of non-pianists, implying that pianists’ ability to perceive tones increased through training. ABRmeasurements also showed differences between pianists and non-pianists. However, cochlear delay, an asymmetric aspect of temporal processing in the human auditory system, did not change with training. It is possible that training improved ability related to temporal tone perception and that training may increase synchrony in auditory nerve firing.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-260
Author(s):  
Selin Ünsaler ◽  
Bora Başaran ◽  
Şule Öztürk Sarı ◽  
Eyüp Kara ◽  
Kemal Değer ◽  
...  

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of chitosan-dextran hydrogel (CDH) in preventing postoperative adhesions between the tympanic membrane (TM) and intratympanic structures, and to evaluate its ototoxicity in an animal study. Methods: In the first step, ototoxicity was evaluated with 7 male albino guinea pigs (GPs) via auditory brainstem responses (ABR) before and 4 weeks after unilateral intratympanic injection of CDH and saline solution contralaterally. In the second step, 12 GPs underwent bilateral ear surgery. The middle ear (ME) mucosa was abraded, and the cavity was filled with CDH on one side and packed with Gelfoam on the contralateral side. A control group of 6 GPs underwent the same procedure except that no material was applied in the ME. The animals were euthanized at the end of the 7th week, and otomicroscopic findings were noted and the temporal bones harvested for the histologic examination. The findings were scored and compared. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and postoperative ABR thresholds. In the otomicroscopic findings, the most prominent difference between the two groups was the presence of retraction of the TM in the Gelfoam group. The histopathologic findings revealed a higher degree of inflammation in the Gelfoam group compared with the CDH group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that CDH has no ototoxic effects in GPs. Its use as an ME packing material revealed significantly less TM retraction and inflammatory reaction compared with Gelfoam.


Biomedicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-492
Author(s):  
Shilpa Khullar ◽  
S. Aijaz Abbas Rizvi ◽  
Ankur Sachdeva ◽  
Archana Sood ◽  
Syed Sibte Akbar Abidi

Introduction and Aim: Aging of the auditory pathway is a complex phenomenon consisting of changes in the auditory processing along with a significant elevation of the hearing threshold. The aim of our study was to see the variation in interpeak latencies (IPLs) of Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) with advancing age in males.   Materials and Methods: It was an observational study conducted on 60 Indian male subjects aged between 20 and 80 years divided into three groups on the basis of age: Group 1: 20-40 years, Group 2: 41-60 years and Group 3: 61-80 years. Auditory threshold and ABRs were recorded and analysed for interpeak latencies (IPLs) – I-III,I-V and III-V in msec.The comparison of data between the groups was done using one – way ANOVA and Tukey Kramer multiple comparison test. The results were considered significantly different between the groups when ‘P value’ was ? 0.05.   Results: It was found that there was no significant difference in the auditory threshold and interpeak latencies (IPLs) when comparison was made between the three groups.   Conclusion: Hence we conclude thatage does not have any significant influence on neural conduction time of the auditory pathway which is represented by the IPLs in ABRs.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. e267-e275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selin Üstün Bezgin ◽  
Kadir Kemal Uygur ◽  
Çağıl Gökdoğan ◽  
Çiğdem Elmas ◽  
Güleser Göktaş

Introduction Riluzole (2-amino-6-trifluoromethoxy benzothiazole) is known as a neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiapoptotic agent. It may have beneficial effects on neuronal cell death due to cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Objective To evaluate the effect of riluzole on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in guinea pigs. Methods Twenty-four guinea pigs, studied in three groups, underwent auditory brainstem response evaluation using click and 8 kHz tone burst stimuli. Subsequently, 5 mg/kg of cisplatin were administered to all animals for 3 days intraperitoneally (i.p.) to induce ototoxicity. Half an hour prior to cisplatin, groups 1, 2 and 3 received 2 ml of saline i.p., 6 mg/kg of riluzole hydrochloride i.p., and 8 mg/kg of riluzole hydrochloride i.p., respectively, for 3 days. The auditory brainstem responses were repeated 24 hours after the last drug administration. The cochleae were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results After drug administiration, for 8,000 Hz stimulus, group 1 had significantly higher threshold shifts when compared with groups 2 (p < 0.05) and 3 (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in threshold shifts between groups 2 and 3 (p > 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy findings demonstrated the protective effect of riluzole on the hair cells and the stria vascularis, especially in the group treated with 8 mg/kg of riluzole hydrochloride. Conclusion We can say that riluzole may have a protective effect on cisplatin- induced ototoxicity. However, additional studies are needed to confirm these results and the mechanisms of action of riluzole.


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