昼夜节律调节耳蜗对噪声敏感性研究进展

强烈的噪声会损伤耳蜗毛细胞、听神经、耳蜗毛细胞与听神经之间的突触连接,造成噪声性听力损失(noise-induced hearingloss,NIHL)。近年来的研究显示,动物耳蜗具有昼夜节律性,使得它们对昼夜噪声的敏感性不同。耳蜗昼夜节律与脑源性神经营养因子以及糖皮质激素水平之间存在着一定的关系,从而影响动物噪声暴露后听力损失的程度。本文综述了昼夜节律调节耳蜗对噪声敏感性研究进展,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

听觉声损伤与耳蜗鼓阶淋巴氧分压的关系

本实验运用极谱式氧电极研究了噪声暴露对耳蜗鼓阶淋巴氧分压（ＳＴＰＯ２）的影响以及ＳＴＰＯ２的变化与听觉电生理、毛细胞损伤之间的关系。结果表明：（１）８５ｄＢＳＰＬ以上声刺激时ＳＴＰＯ２迅速降低;８５ｄＢＳＰＬ窄带噪声暴露时ＳＴＰ０２与血压一同缓慢增高;低于８５ｄＢＳＰＬ的声刺激则未能引起ＳＴＰ０２和血压的改变。（２）ＳＴＰＯ２降低约２０％即伴随明显的听损伤;ＳＴＰＯ２的变化程度与声暴露量（ｒ＝０．９７,Ｐ＜０．０５）、听力损失（ｒ＝０．８２,Ｐ＜０．０５）呈相关;与耳蜗病理改变也有一定关系,但与血压无明显相关性（ｒ＝０．２１,Ｐ＞０．２）。（３）声暴露时,吸入碳氧混合气对听力损失具有部分保护作用。     

噪声刺激后豚鼠耳蜗抗氧化能力的变化和α-硫辛酸对声损伤的保护作用

实验探讨了声刺激后豚鼠血清总抗氧化能力(total antioxidant capacity,TAC)和耳蜗组织一氧化氮(nitricoxide,NO)含量的变化及α-硫辛酸的抗氧化和对声损伤的保护作用。将豚鼠(350-400 g)随机分为无噪声对照组(n=20)、噪声+生理盐水组(n=20)和噪声+α-硫辛酸组(n=20)。噪声刺激(4.kHz倍频程,115 dB SPL 5 h)结束后立即测试脑于诱发电位(auditory brainstem responses,ABRs),取血清测TAC,制备耳蜗组织匀浆测NO的水平。所得结果如下:(1)无噪声对照组,动物听阈无明显变化;噪声刺激后生理盐水组,听阈上升的幅度明显高于α-硫辛酸组(P<0.05)。(2)噪声+生理盐水组,TAlC明显低于无噪声对照组(P<0.05);噪声+α-硫辛酸组同噪声+生理盐水组相比,TAC明显升高(P<0.05),同无噪声对照组相比,无显著性差异(P>0.05)。(3)噪声+生理盐水组,NO含量高于无噪声对照组(P<0.05);噪声+α-硫辛酸组同噪声+生理盐水组相比,NO含量明显减少(P<0.05),同无噪声对照组相比,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。上述结果提示,噪声刺激后血清TAC降低,耳蜗组织内NO含量增加;α-硫辛酸可通过抗氧化机制对噪声性听力损伤(noise induced hearing loss,NIHL)发挥保护作用。     

如何选配助听器

临床上无法治疗的神经性耳聋和经过治疗但无效的传导性耳聋患者都应该尽早选配助听器。大多数神经性耳聋患者的症状是,听得到说话的声音,但分辩不出说话的内容,看电视只能依赖于字幕。这部分患者耳聋的原因是由于内耳中大量听毛细胞退化和坏死。对相当一部分陈旧性的传导性耳聋患者来说,为了防止内耳功能下降,从改善听力和保护听力的角度,他们也应选配助听器。 听力学上对耳聋患者,尤其是神经性耳聋患者有明显要求,早期发现听力减退,即选配助听器并坚     

用脑干电位的互相关函数客观估计听力阈值

将脑干诱发电位记录分为大小相等的两个子集均,求其互相关函数。互相关函数在原点附近的平均幅度作为估计听力阈值的参数,并通过实验得出表达该参数与阈上刺激强度关系的直线回归方程,从而求出听力阈值的估计公式。把三种阈上刺激强度下的参数值分别代入估计公式,平均结果作为听力阈值的估计。对8个有不同听力损失的病耳进行了估计,其结果与主观阈值平均相差4.6dB。     

γ射线照射后噪声对豚鼠听阈的影响

本研究分别观察了豚鼠在噪声暴露(105±2dBA,持续0.5h),γ射线照射(80Gy一次暴露)及γ射线照射后接着噪声暴露三种情况下豚鼠的听阈偏移。实验结果表明噪声暴露组豚鼠的听阈偏移在暴露后96h内恢复。γ射线照射组的最大阈移在照射后96h为9dB(4kHz)。γ射线照射后接着暴露于噪声的豚鼠的阈移大于噪声组和γ射线组阈移的总和。提示γ射线与噪声对豚鼠听阈产生了协同作用。     

长江鲟幼鱼的听觉阈值研究

试验采用室内噪声控制的方式模拟野外自然噪声环境,以长江鲟(Acipenser dabryanus Dumeril)幼鱼为实验对象,使用TDT听觉测试系统,在100—500 Hz的刺激频率下,通过听性脑干反应(Auditory Evoked Potential, AEP法)测定其听力阈值。结果显示,长江鲟的最敏感频率为300 Hz,声压为(133±0.5) dB,听力曲线呈“V”型,听觉阈值随着频率的不同而发生变化。总体看,长江鲟听觉阈值较高,听力较弱,不能听到500 Hz以上的声音,其中,长江鲟的听觉阈值与湖鲟和匙吻鲟等鲟鱼类基本相似,但比长江中常见的淡水鱼类的听觉阈值高、听频范围窄。研究结果将为长江鲟的野外放归和种群重建提供重要基础资料,为评价涉渔工程建设运行对长江鱼类的影响提供基础数据支撑。     

有关猫交叉听力及其对检测耳影响的初步研究

目的研究猫的交叉听力现象及其产生机理,初步探讨交叉听力对检测耳ABR振幅的影响。方法用彻底破坏一侧耳蜗的方法,观察16只听力正常家猫的交叉听力现象及其对检测耳的影响。结果①当短声强度≥75dB(SPL)时,开始出现交叉听力波形,声强增至95dB时,交叉听力波形最典型。②95dB短声产生的交叉听力波形可被40或45dB(SPL)的稳态白噪声（SWN）完全屏蔽掉。③在同一时间轴中比较95dB短声诱发的ABR和交叉听力波形,发现交叉听力之波谷恰与ABR之pⅢ、pⅣ波峰相对应。④两耳均正常时对侧耳负荷的40dBSWN可使95dB短声诱发的ABR之pⅢ、pⅣ波振幅增大,且具统计学意义（P＜0.01）。结论交叉听力对ABR振幅的影响取决于两者的波峰与波谷在同一时间轴上的对应情况,声强较大时记录到的ABR,实质上是交叉听力与刺激侧产生的ABR在同一时间轴上的综合电位。     

一氧化氮对过氧化氢所致听力损失的保护作用

通过全耳蜗灌流法在体观察一氧化氮(N0)能否通过一氧化氮/环磷酸鸟苷(NO/cGMP)途径对抗过氧化氢这种氧自由基所致的听力损失。实验选用耳廓反射灵敏、无耳毒性药物使用史的健康杂色豚鼠(250-350 g)50只,雌雄不拘,随机分为5组,每组10只动物,分别行全耳蜗灌流人工外淋巴液;过氧化氢(H2O2);L-精氨酸(合成NO的底物);H2O2+L-精氨酸;H2O2+L-精氨酸+L-NNA(一氧化氮合成酶的抑制剂),均灌流2 h。通过圆窗龛电极,每隔30 min记录复合动作电位(compound action potential,CAP:由短声Click诱发)阈值,耳蜗微音器电位(cochlear microphonic,CM;由短纯音Tone Burst诱发)幅度,了解耳蜗功能的变化,并分离取出耳蜗基底膜并制备基底膜硬铺片,通过碘化毗啶(PI)和Hoecbst双染色方法,观察耳蜗组织各类细胞损伤情况。结果显示,灌流H2O2+L-精氨酸组的CAP阈移和CM下降幅度值明显低于单独灌流H2O2组,差异有显著性(氏P<0.05);前者形态学观察未见明显的细胞损伤,后者可见大量坏死红染的细胞。H2O1+L-精氨酸+L-NNA组CAP阈移和CM下降幅度与单独灌流H2O2组比较无统计学差异。实验结果提示NO可能通过NO/cGMP途径部分对抗过氧化氢所致的听力损失。     

《喉镜》:报告称阳痿治疗药物或导致耳聋

据英国《每日电讯报》5月19日报道,《喉镜》杂志刊登最新研究警告说,服用伟哥等治疗阳痿的药物可能会导致耳聋。研究发现,伟哥和类似的壮阳药物与全球成百上千例听力突然丧失病例关联极大。继美国发现大批服用伟哥的患者出现听力问题之后,医生开始发出警告,服用伟哥之类的药物或导致听力受损。在美国、东亚和澳大利亚三地进行的"阳痿药物与听力丧失"问卷调查发现,47%的感觉神经性听力丧失(单耳或双耳听力快速丧失)疑似病     

Fine mapping of Ahl3 affecting both age-related and noise-induced hearing loss

A region in the vicinity of D17Mit119 on mouse chromosome 17 harbors a susceptibility gene, designated as Ahl3, to age-related hearing loss (AHL). We produced congenic lines of C57BL/6 background that substituted regions around D17Mit119 with MSM-derived ones, and examined auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds for their hearing capacity at 6 and 12months of age. Three congenic lines carrying the approximately 14-Mb region between D17Mit274 and D17Mit183 retained normal hearing at 12months of age whereas two congenic lines not carrying this region tended to lose hearing at that age. We also investigated noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in congenic lines at 1, 7 and 14days after exposure to the noise of 100dB for 1h. Most congenic mice carrying the 14-Mb region did not exhibit permanent threshold shift (PTS) whereas mice not carrying this region exhibited a strong tendency of PTS, indicating the role of Ahl3 in susceptibility to NIHL. These results indicate that Ahl3 exists within the 14-Mb region and affects not only AHL but also NIHL.     

TEMPORARY THRESHOLD SHIFTS AFTER NOISE EXPOSURE IN THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) MEASURED USING EVOKED AUDITORY POTENTIALS

The time course of recovery from temporary threshold shift (TTS) was measured in a bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus , using an evoked-potential procedure. The envelope-following response (EFR), which is a rhythmic train of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to sinusoidally amplitude-modulated tones, was used as an indicator of the sound reception by the animal. Variation of the intensity of the stimulus allowed us to measure the animal's hearing via EFR thresholds. During each session, following an initial measure of threshold, the trained animal voluntary positioned itself within a hoop 1 m underwater while a 160 dB re 1 μPa noise of a 4–11 kHz bandwidth was presented for 30 min. After the noise exposure, thresholds were measured again at delays of 5, 10, 15, 25, 45, and 105 min. Measurements were made at test frequencies of 8, 11.2, 16, 22.5, and 32 kHz. The maximum TTS occurred 5 min after exposure and rapidly recovered with a rate of around 1.5 dB per doubling of time. TTS occurred at test frequencies from 8 to 16 kHz, with the maximum at 16 kHz. TTS was negligible at 22.5 kHz and absent at 32 kHz.     

Noise‐induced cochlear F‐actin depolymerization is mediated via ROCK2/p‐ERM signaling

Our previous work has suggested that traumatic noise activates Rho‐GTPase pathways in cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs), resulting in cell death and noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL). In this study, we investigated Rho effectors, Rho‐associated kinases (ROCKs), and the targets of ROCKs, the ezrin‐radixin‐moesin (ERM) proteins, in the regulation of the cochlear actin cytoskeleton using adult CBA/J mice under conditions of noise‐induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold shift (PTS) hearing loss, which result in changes to the F/G‐actin ratio. The levels of cochlear ROCK2 and p‐ERM decreased 1 h after either TTS‐ or PTS‐noise exposure. In contrast, ROCK2 and p‐ERM in OHCs decreased only after PTS‐, not after TTS‐noise exposure. Treatment with lysophosphatidic acid, an activator of the Rho pathway, resulted in significant reversal of the F/G‐actin ratio changes caused by noise exposure and attenuated OHC death and NIHL. Conversely, the down‐regulation of ROCK2 by pretreatment with ROCK2 siRNA reduced the expression of ROCK2 and p‐ERM in OHCs, exacerbated TTS to PTS, and worsened OHC loss. Additionally, pretreatment with siRNA against radixin, an ERM protein, aggravated TTS to PTS. Our results indicate that a ROCK2‐mediated ERM‐phosphorylation signaling cascade modulates noise‐induced hair cell loss and NIHL by targeting the cytoskeleton.

     

Dynamic changes in hair cell stereocilia and cochlear transduction after noise exposure

The structures of cochlear transduction include stereocilia at the apical surface of hair cells and their connection to the tectorial membrane. The transduction site is one of the loci for noise-induced cochlear damage. Although stereocilia are susceptible to noise, it has been found that in the inner ears of avians, this fragile structure is largely self-repairing and is associated with recovery of hearing sensitivity after noise exposure, as observed in the difference between the temporal threshold shift (TTS) and the permanent threshold shift (PTS). In the mammalian cochleae, however, threshold shifts measured in the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) did not parallel the chronological changes in the stereocilia on hair cells. It is unclear how the morphological recovery of the stereocilia on the mammalian hair cells is correlated with the changes in cochlear transduction that can be assessed by measuring receptor potential. In the present study, guinea pigs were exposed to a broadband noise of 110 dB SPL for 2 h. Auditory sensitivity was evaluated using ABR and cochlear transduction was assessed using cochlear microphonics (CM). Stereocilia morphology was quantified at different time points after the noise and compared with the control. The noise produced a TTS of 55.69 ± 14.13 dB in frequency-averaged ABR thresholds. The threshold shift was reduced to 9.58 ± 11.75 dB SPL 1 month later with virtually no loss of hair cells. Damage to the stereocilia immediately after noise exposure was found to be associated with depression of CM amplitude. Virtually no abnormal stereocilia were observed 1 month after the noise in association with a fully recovered CM.     

Genome-wide screening for genetic loci associated with noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the more common sources of environmentally induced hearing loss in adults. In a mouse model, Castaneous (CAST/Ei) is an inbred strain that is resistant to NIHL, while the C57BL/6J strain is susceptible. We have used the genome-tagged mice (GTM) library of congenic strains, carrying defined segments of the CAST/Ei genome introgressed onto the C57BL/6J background, to search for loci modifying the noise-induced damage seen in the C57BL/6J strain. NIHL was induced by exposing 6-8-week old mice to 108 dB SPL intensity noise. We tested the hearing of each mouse strain up to 23 days after noise exposure using auditory brainstem response (ABR). This study identifies a number of genetic loci that modify the initial response to damaging noise, as well as long-term recovery. The data suggest that multiple alleles within the CAST/Ei genome modify the pathogenesis of NIHL and that screening congenic libraries for loci that underlie traits of interest can be easily carried out in a high-throughput fashion.     

Moderate O3/O2 therapy enhances enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant in brain and cochlear that protects noise-induced hearing loss

Mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In this study, we examined the protective effect of O₂/O₃ mixture (ozone/oxygen) therapy against mitochondrial induced damage and oxidative stress by noise exposure in rat brain and cochlear. For this purpose, rats were divided into four groups: 1 – control group; 2 – noise-exposed group (100?dB); 3 – noise?+?O₂/O₃, and 4 – O₂/O₃ (30 µg/ml). After 14 d, animals were anesthetised. Rat brain and cochlear tissue were removed for evaluation of the histopathological damages, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in both tissues. Our findings indicated that noise caused pathological damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in rat brain and cochlear. Also, daily administration of an O₂/O₃ therapy (30 µg/ml intravenous) efficiently increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant in brain and cochlear that this action led to inhibition of pathological damages, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species formation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release resulting from noise. These findings suggest that the moderate O₂/O₃ therapy enhances the capacity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant in brain and cochlear that protects against NIHL.     

Hearing sensitivity and amplitude coding in bats are differentially shaped by echolocation calls and social calls

Differences in auditory perception between species are influenced by phylogenetic origin and the perceptual challenges imposed by the natural environment, such as detecting prey- or predator-generated sounds and communication signals. Bats are well suited for comparative studies on auditory perception since they predominantly rely on echolocation to perceive the world, while their social calls and most environmental sounds have low frequencies. We tested if hearing sensitivity and stimulus level coding in bats differ between high and low-frequency ranges by measuring auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) of 86 bats belonging to 11 species. In most species, auditory sensitivity was equally good at both high- and low-frequency ranges, while amplitude was more finely coded for higher frequency ranges. Additionally, we conducted a phylogenetic comparative analysis by combining our ABR data with published data on 27 species. Species-specific peaks in hearing sensitivity correlated with peak frequencies of echolocation calls and pup isolation calls, suggesting that changes in hearing sensitivity evolved in response to frequency changes of echolocation and social calls. Overall, our study provides the most comprehensive comparative assessment of bat hearing capacities to date and highlights the evolutionary pressures acting on their sensory perception.     

Ectopic expression of ROR1 prevents cochlear hair cell loss in guinea pigs with noise‐induced hearing loss

Noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most frequent disabilities in industrialized countries. Evidence shows that hair cell loss in the auditory end organ is responsible for the majority of various ear pathological conditions. The functional roles of the receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 have been underscored in various tumours. In this study, we evaluated the ability of ROR1 to influence cochlear hair cell loss of guinea pigs with NIHL. The NIHL model was developed in guinea pigs, with subsequent measurement of the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Gain‐of‐function experiments were employed to explore the role of ROR1 in NIHL. The interaction between ROR1 and Wnt5a and their functions in the cochlear hair cell loss were further analysed in response to alteration of ROR1 and Wnt5a. Guinea pigs with NIHL demonstrated elevated ABR threshold and down‐regulated ROR1, Wnt5a and NF‐κB p65. The up‐regulation of ROR1 was shown to decrease the cochlear hair cell loss and the expression of pro‐apoptotic gene (Bax, p53) in guinea pig cochlea, but promoted the expression of anti‐apoptotic gene (Bcl‐2) and the fluorescence intensity of cleaved‐caspase‐3. ROR1 interacted with Wnt5a to activate the NF‐κB signalling pathway through inducing phosphorylation and translocation of p65. Furthermore, Wnt5a overexpression decreased the cochlear hair cell loss. Collectively, this study suggested the protection of overexpression of ROR1 against cochlear hair cell loss in guinea pigs with NIHL via the Wnt5a‐dependent NF‐κB signalling pathway.     

Free radical scavengers vitamins A, C, and E plus magnesium reduce noise trauma

Free radical formation in the cochlea plays a key role in the development of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The amount, distribution, and time course of free radical formation have been defined, including a clinically significant formation of both reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species 7-10 days after noise exposure. Reduction in cochlear blood flow as a result of free radical formation has also been described. Here we report that the antioxidant agents vitamins A, C, and E act in synergy with magnesium to effectively prevent noise-induced trauma. Neither the antioxidant agents nor the magnesium reliably reduced NIHL or sensory cell death with the doses we used when these agents were delivered alone. In combination, however, they were highly effective in reducing both hearing loss and cell death even with treatment initiated just 1 h before noise exposure. This study supports roles for both free radical formation and noise-induced vasoconstriction in the onset and progression of NIHL. Identification of this safe and effective antioxidant intervention that attenuates NIHL provides a compelling rationale for human trials in which free radical scavengers are used to eliminate this single major cause of acquired hearing loss.