Evaluation of inner hair cell and nerve fiber loss as sufficient pathologies underlying auditory neuropathy

Hear Res. 2009 Sep;255(1-2):84-90. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2009.06.003. Epub 2009 Jun 14.

Abstract

Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder characterized by normal function of outer hair cells, evidenced by intact cochlear microphonic (CM) potentials and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), with absent or severely dys-synchronized auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). To determine if selective lesions of inner hair cells (IHCs) and auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) can account for these primary clinical features of auditory neuropathy, we measured physiological responses from chinchillas with large lesions of ANFs (about 85%) and IHCs (45% loss in the apical half of the cochlea; 73% in the basal half). Distortion product OAEs and CM potentials were significantly enhanced, whereas summating potentials and compound action potentials (CAPs) were significantly reduced. CAP threshold was elevated by 7.5dB, but response synchrony was well preserved down to threshold levels of stimulation. Similarly, ABR threshold was elevated by 5.6dB, but all waves were present and well synchronized down to threshold levels in all animals. Thus, large lesions of IHCs and ANFs reduced response amplitudes but did not abolish or severely dys-synchronize CAPs or ABRs. Pathologies other than or in addition to ANF and IHC loss are likely to account for the evoked potential dys-synchrony that is a clinical hallmark of auditory neuropathy in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Diseases, Central / chemically induced
  • Auditory Diseases, Central / pathology*
  • Auditory Diseases, Central / physiopathology
  • Auditory Pathways / injuries
  • Auditory Pathways / pathology*
  • Auditory Pathways / physiopathology
  • Carboplatin / toxicity
  • Chinchilla
  • Cochlear Microphonic Potentials
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / drug effects
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / pathology*
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / physiology
  • Hearing Disorders / chemically induced
  • Hearing Disorders / pathology
  • Hearing Disorders / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Nerve Fibers / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers / pathology
  • Nerve Fibers / physiology
  • Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

Substances

  • Carboplatin