Original Article

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2015): The Journal of International Advanced Otology

Assessment of Synaptic Plasticity via Long-Term Potentiation in Young Mice on the Day after Acoustic Trauma: Implications for Tinnitus

Main Article Content

Aslı Çakır
Mustafa Cenk Ecevit
Ramazan Bal
Selhan Gürkan
Hayrettin Cengiz Alpay
Mustafa Bülent Şerbetçioğlu

Abstract

Abstract


OBJECTIVE: This experimental study evaluated the pathophysiological association of long-term potentiation (LTP)-mediated synaptic plasticity in tinnitus in 30 BALB/c mice.



 



MATERIALS and METHODS: Baseline hearing levels and tinnitus perception were examined with startle reflex time and gap detection time measurements using an acoustic stimulus of a 6-kHz pure tone at 90 dB sound pressure level (SPL) on post-natal day 16. The acoustic trauma group was exposed to 6-kHz pure tone at 120 dB SPL on post-natal day 16. On post-natal day 17, the acoustic trauma group underwent re-measurements of hearing levels and tinnitus perception using an acoustic stimulus of 6-kHz pure tone at 100 dB SPL. Fifteen tinnitus-induced and fifteen control subjects were sacrificed on post-natal day 17, and LTP in the dorsal cochlear nuclei of each animal was examined. 



 



RESULTS: With respect to gap detection time, there were no statistically significant between-group differences; however, there was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-trauma period in the acoustic trauma group. Moreover, LTP was significantly higher in the acoustic trauma group than in the control group.



 



CONCLUSION: The results suggest that LTP underlies tinnitus pathogenesis.




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