scholarly journals Dose-Dependent Pattern of Cochlear Synaptic Degeneration in C57BL/6J Mice Induced by Repeated Noise Exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Minfei Qian ◽  
Qixuan Wang ◽  
Zhongying Wang ◽  
Qingping Ma ◽  
Xueling Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Intensity Noise ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Synaptic Degeneration ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Dose Dependent

It is widely accepted that even a single acute noise exposure at moderate intensity that induces temporary threshold shift (TTS) can result in permanent loss of ribbon synapses between inner hair cells and afferents. However, effects of repeated or chronic noise exposures on the cochlear synapses especially medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent synapses remain elusive. Based on a weeklong repeated exposure model of bandwidth noise over 2-20 kHz for 2 hours at seven intensities (88 to 106 dB SPL with 3 dB increment per gradient) on C57BL/6J mice, we attempted to explore the dose-response mechanism of prolonged noise-induced audiological dysfunction and cochlear synaptic degeneration. In our results, mice repeatedly exposed to relatively low-intensity noise (88, 91, and 94 dB SPL) showed few changes on auditory brainstem response (ABR), ribbon synapses, or MOC efferent synapses. Notably, repeated moderate-intensity noise exposures (97 and 100 dB SPL) not only caused hearing threshold shifts and the inner hair cell ribbon synaptopathy but also impaired MOC efferent synapses, which might contribute to complex patterns of damages on cochlear function and morphology. However, repeated high-intensity (103 and 106 dB SPL) noise exposures induced PTSs mainly accompanied by damages on cochlear amplifier function of outer hair cells and the inner hair cell ribbon synaptopathy, rather than the MOC efferent synaptic degeneration. Moreover, we observed a frequency-dependent vulnerability of the repeated acoustic trauma-induced cochlear synaptic degeneration. This study provides a sight into the hypothesis that noise-induced cochlear synaptic degeneration involves both afferent (ribbon synapses) and efferent (MOC terminals) pathology. The pattern of dose-dependent pathological changes induced by repeated noise exposure at various intensities provides a possible explanation for the complicated cochlear synaptic degeneration in humans. The underlying mechanisms remain to be studied in the future.

scholarly journals Hidden hearing loss is associated with loss of ribbon synapses of cochlea inner hair cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Song ◽  
Bin Gan ◽  
Na Wang ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
An-ting Xu
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hair Cell ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Ribbon Synapse ◽  
Intensity Noise ◽  
Auditory Function ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Hidden Hearing Loss

This study aimed to observe the changes in the cochlea ribbon synapses after repeated exposure to moderate-to-high intensity noise. Guinea pigs received 95 dB SPL white noise exposure 4 hours a day for consecutive 7 days (we regarded it a medium-term and moderate-intensity noise, or MTMI noise). Animals were divided into 4 groups: Control, 1DPN (1-day post noise), 1WPN (1-week post noise), and 1MPN (1-month post noise). Auditory function analysis by ABR and CAP recordings, as well as ribbon synapse morphological analyses by immunohistochemistry (Ctbp2 and PSD95 staining) were performed one day, one week, and one month after noise exposure. After MTMI noise exposure, the amplitudes of auditory brainstem response (ABR) I and III waves were suppressed. The compound action potential (CAP) threshold was elevated, and CAP amplitude was reduced in the 1DPN group. No apparent changes in hair cell shape, arrangement or number were observed, but the number of ribbon synapse was reduced. The 1WPN and 1MPN groups showed that part of ABR and CAP changes recovered, as well as the synapse number. The defects in cochlea auditory function and synapse changes were observed mainly in the high-frequency region. Together, repeated exposure in MTMI noise can cause hidden hearing loss, which is partially reversible after leaving the noise environment; and MTMI noise induced hidden hearing loss is associated with inner hair cell ribbon synapses.

scholarly journals Cochlear NMDA Receptors as a Therapeutic Target of Noise-Induced Tinnitus

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1905-1923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Bing ◽  
Sze Chim Lee ◽  
Dario Campanelli ◽  
Hao Xiong ◽  
Masahiro Matsumoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Auditory Nerve ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Round Window ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Brainstem Response

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that tinnitus may occur despite normal auditory sensitivity, probably linked to partial degeneration of the cochlear nerve and damage of the inner hair cell (IHC) synapse. Damage to the IHC synapses and deafferentation may occur even after moderate noise exposure. For both salicylate- and noise-induced tinnitus, aberrant N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation and related auditory nerve excitation have been suggested as origin of cochlear tinnitus. Accordingly, NMDA receptor inhibition has been proposed as a pharmacologic approach for treatment of synaptopathic tinnitus. Methods: Round-window application of the NMDA receptor antagonist AM-101 (Esketamine hydrochloride gel; Auris Medical AG, Basel, Switzerland) was tested in an animal model of tinnitus induced by acute traumatic noise. The study included the quantification of IHC ribbon synapses as a correlate for deafferentation as well as the measurement of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) to close-threshold sensation level stimuli as an indication of sound-induced auditory nerve activity. Results: We have shown that AM-101 reduced the trauma-induced loss of IHC ribbons and counteracted the decline of ABR wave I amplitude generated in the cochlea/auditory nerve. Conclusion: Local round-window application of AM-101 may be a promising therapeutic intervention for the treatment of synaptopathic tinnitus.

scholarly journals An antibody to RGMa promotes regeneration of cochlear synapses after noise exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome Nevoux ◽  
Mihaela Alexandru ◽  
Thomas Bellocq ◽  
Lei Tanaka ◽  
Yushi Hayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Auditory Neuropathy ◽  
Axonal Guidance ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Inner Hair Cells ◽  
Brainstem Response

AbstractAuditory neuropathy is caused by the loss of afferent input to the brainstem via the components of the neural pathway comprising inner hair cells and the first order neurons of the spiral ganglion. Recent work has identified the synapse between cochlear primary afferent neurons and sensory hair cells as a particularly vulnerable component of this pathway. Loss of these synapses due to noise exposure or aging results in the pathology identified as hidden hearing loss, an initial stage of cochlear dysfunction that goes undetected in standard hearing tests. We show here that repulsive axonal guidance molecule a (RGMa) acts to prevent regrowth and synaptogenesis of peripheral auditory nerve fibers with inner hair cells. Treatment of noise-exposed animals with an anti-RGMa blocking antibody regenerated inner hair cell synapses and resulted in recovery of wave-I amplitude of the auditory brainstem response, indicating effective reversal of synaptopathy.

scholarly journals Excess extracellular K+ causes inner hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Bo Zhao ◽  
Yan Zhu ◽  
Li-Man Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Outer Hair Cell ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Ribbon Synapse ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Synapse Degeneration ◽  
Hidden Hearing Loss

AbstractInner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses are the first synapse in the auditory system and can be degenerated by noise and aging, thereby leading to hidden hearing loss (HHL) and other hearing disorders. However, the mechanism underlying this cochlear synaptopathy remains unclear. Here, we report that elevation of extracellular K+, which is a consequence of noise exposure, could cause IHC ribbon synapse degeneration and swelling. Like intensity dependence in noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, the K+-induced degeneration was dose-dependent, and could be attenuated by BK channel blockers. However, application of glutamate receptor (GluR) agonists caused ribbon swelling but not degeneration. In addition, consistent with synaptopathy in HHL, both K+ and noise exposure only caused IHC but not outer hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration. These data reveal that K+ excitotoxicity can degenerate IHC ribbon synapses in HHL, and suggest that BK channel may be a potential target for prevention and treatment of HHL.

scholarly journals Differences in Calcium Clearance at Inner Hair Cell Active Zones May Underlie the Difference in Susceptibility to Noise-Induced Cochlea Synaptopathy of C57BL/6J and CBA/CaJ Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongchao Liu ◽  
Hu Peng ◽  
Longhao Wang ◽  
Pengcheng Xu ◽  
Zhaoyan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Clearance Rate ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Response Threshold ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Cba Mice ◽  
Calcium Clearance ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Susceptibility To Noise

Noise exposure of a short period at a moderate level can produce permanent cochlear synaptopathy without seeing lasting changes in audiometric threshold. However, due to the species differences in inner hair cell (IHC) calcium current that we have recently discovered, the susceptibility to noise exposure may vary, thereby impact outcomes of noise exposure. In this study, we investigate the consequences of noise exposure in the two commonly used animal models in hearing research, CBA/CaJ (CBA) and C57BL/6J (B6) mice, focusing on the functional changes of cochlear IHCs. In the CBA mice, moderate noise exposure resulted in a typical fully recovered audiometric threshold but a reduced wave I amplitude of auditory brainstem responses. In contrast, both auditory brainstem response threshold and wave I amplitude fully recovered in B6 mice at 2 weeks after noise exposure. Confocal microscopy observations found that ribbon synapses of IHCs recovered in B6 mice but not in CBA mice. To further characterize the molecular mechanism underlying these different phenotypes in synaptopathy, we compared the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 with the expression of cytochrome-C and found increased activity in CBA mice after noise exposure. Under whole-cell patch clamped IHCs, we acquired two-photon calcium imaging around the active zone to evaluate the Ca2+ clearance rate and found that CBA mice have a slower calcium clearance rate. Our results indicated that excessive accumulation of calcium due to acoustic overexposure and slow clearance around the presynaptic ribbon might lead to disruption of calcium homeostasis, followed by mitochondrial dysfunction of IHCs that cause susceptibility of noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in CBA mice.

scholarly journals Auditory Brainstem Response to Paired Click Stimulation as an Indicator of Peripheral Synaptic Health in Noise-Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Hun Lee ◽  
Min Young Lee ◽  
Ji Eun Choi ◽  
Jae Yun Jung
Keyword(s):  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Response ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Brainstem Response

IntroductionA defect in the cochlear afferent synapse between the inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, after noise exposure, without changes in the hearing threshold has been reported. Animal studies on auditory evoked potentials demonstrated changes in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements of peak I amplitude and the loss of synapses, which affect the temporal resolution of complex sounds. Human studies of auditory evoked potential have reported ambiguous results regarding the relationship between peak I amplitude and noise exposure. Paired click stimuli have been used to investigate the temporal processing abilities of humans and animals. In this study, we investigated the utility of measuring auditory evoked potentials in response to paired click stimuli to assess the temporal processing function of ribbon synapses in noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy.Materials and MethodsTwenty-two Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study, and synaptopathy was induced by narrow-band noise exposure (16 kHz with 1 kHz bandwidth, 105 dB sound pressure level for 2 h). ABRs to tone and paired click stimuli were measured before and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after noise exposure. For histological analyses, hair cells and ribbon synapses were immunostained and the synapses quantified. The relationships among ABR peak I amplitude, number of synapses, and ABR to paired click stimuli were examined.ResultsOur results showed that ABR thresholds increase 1 day after noise exposure but fully recover to baseline levels after 14 days. Further, we demonstrated test frequency-dependent decreases in peak I amplitude and the number of synapses after noise exposure. These decreases were statistically significant at frequencies of 16 and 32 kHz. However, the ABR recovery threshold to paired click stimuli increased, which represent deterioration in the ability of temporal auditory processing. Our results indicate that the ABR recovery threshold is highly correlated with ABR peak I amplitude after noise exposure. We also established a direct correlation between the ABR recovery threshold and histological findings.ConclusionThe result from this study suggests that in animal studies, the ABR to paired click stimuli along with peak I amplitude has potential as an assessment tool for hidden hearing loss.

scholarly journals Excess extracellular K+ causes inner hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Bo Zhao ◽  
Yan Zhu ◽  
Li-Man Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Outer Hair Cell ◽  
Bk Channel ◽  
Ribbon Synapse ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Ribbon Synapses ◽  
Synapse Degeneration ◽  
Hidden Hearing Loss

AbstractInner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses are the first synapse in the auditory system and can be degenerated by noise and aging, thereby leading to hidden hearing loss (HHL) and other hearing disorders. However, the mechanism underlying this cochlear synaptopathy remains unclear. Here, we report that elevation of extracellular K+, which is a consequence of noise exposure, could cause IHC ribbon synapse degeneration and swelling. Like intensity dependence in noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, the K+-induced degeneration was dose-dependent, and could be attenuated by BK channel blockers. However, application of glutamate receptor (GluR) agonists caused ribbon swelling but not degeneration. In addition, consistent with synaptopathy in HHL, both K+ and noise exposure only caused IHC but not outer hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration. These data reveal that K+ excitotoxicity can degenerate IHC ribbon synapses in HHL, and suggest that BK channel may be a potential target for prevention and treatment of HHL.

scholarly journals An Antibody to RGMa Promotes Regeneration of Cochlear Synapses after Noise Exposure

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome Nevoux ◽  
Mihaela Alexandru ◽  
Thomas Bellocq ◽  
Lei Tanaka ◽  
Yushi Hayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Auditory Neuropathy ◽  
Axonal Guidance ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Inner Hair Cells ◽  
Brainstem Response

SUMMARYAuditory neuropathy is caused by the loss of afferent input to the brainstem via the components of the neural pathway comprising inner hair cells and the first order neurons of the spiral ganglion. Recent work has identified the synapse between cochlear primary afferent neurons and sensory hair cells as a particularly vulnerable component of this pathway. Loss of these synapses due to noise exposure or aging results in the pathology identified as hidden hearing loss, an initial stage of cochlear dysfunction that goes undetected in standard hearing tests. We show here that repulsive axonal guidance molecule a (RGMa) acts to prevent regrowth and synaptogenesis of peripheral auditory nerve fibers with inner hair cells. Treatment of noise-exposed animals with an anti-RGMa blocking antibody regenerated inner hair cell synapses and resulted in recovery of wave-I amplitude of the auditory brainstem response, indicating effective reversal of synaptopathy.

scholarly journals Effect of Phlorofucofuroeckol A and Dieckol Extracted from Ecklonia cava on Noise-induced Hearing Loss in a Mouse Model

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
Hyunjun Woo ◽  
Min-Kyung Kim ◽  
Sohyeon Park ◽  
Seung-Hee Han ◽  
Hyeon-Cheol Shin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hair Cell ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Threshold Shift ◽  
Ecklonia Cava ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Antioxidant Agents ◽  
Brainstem Response

One of the well-known causes of hearing loss is noise. Approximately 31.1% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 years (61.1 million people) have high-frequency hearing loss associated with noise exposure. In addition, recurrent noise exposure can accelerate age-related hearing loss. Phlorofucofuroeckol A (PFF-A) and dieckol, polyphenols extracted from the brown alga Ecklonia cava, are potent antioxidant agents. In this study, we investigated the effect of PFF-A and dieckol on the consequences of noise exposure in mice. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, dieckol and PFF-A both showed significant radical-scavenging activity. The mice were exposed to 115 dB SPL of noise one single time for 2 h. Auditory brainstem response(ABR) threshold shifts 4 h after 4 kHz noise exposure in mice that received dieckol were significantly lower than those in the saline with noise group. The high-PFF-A group showed a lower threshold shift at click and 16 kHz 1 day after noise exposure than the control group. The high-PFF-A group also showed higher hair cell survival than in the control at 3 days after exposure in the apical turn. These results suggest that noise-induced hair cell damage in cochlear and the ABR threshold shift can be alleviated by dieckol and PFF-A in the mouse. Derivatives of these compounds may be applied to individuals who are inevitably exposed to noise, contributing to the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss with a low probability of adverse effects.

scholarly journals Inner hair cell stereocilia are embedded in the tectorial membrane

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Hakizimana ◽  
Anders Fridberger
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Hair Cell ◽  
Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Viscous Drag ◽  
Tectorial Membrane ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Inner Hair Cells ◽  
Inward Currents

AbstractMammalian hearing depends on sound-evoked displacements of the stereocilia of inner hair cells (IHCs), which cause the endogenous mechanoelectrical transducer channels to conduct inward currents of cations including Ca2+. Due to their presumed lack of contacts with the overlaying tectorial membrane (TM), the putative stimulation mechanism for these stereocilia is by means of the viscous drag of the surrounding endolymph. However, despite numerous efforts to characterize the TM by electron microscopy and other techniques, the exact IHC stereocilia-TM relationship remains elusive. Here we show that Ca2+-rich filamentous structures, that we call Ca2+ ducts, connect the TM to the IHC stereocilia to enable mechanical stimulation by the TM while also ensuring the stereocilia access to TM Ca2+. Our results call for a reassessment of the stimulation mechanism for the IHC stereocilia and the TM role in hearing.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document