Laser doppler measurements of cochlear blood flow during loud sound exposure in the guinea pig

P. R. Thorne, A. L. Nuttall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

124 Scopus citations

Abstract

This investigation examined the effects of loud sound of different frequencies and intensities on cochlear blood flow as measured by the laser Doppler flowmeter. Cochlear blood flow was measured in anesthetized guinea pigs during a l h exposure to either a 2, 4, or 12 kHz pure tone or high-pass noise (10-40 kHz) at 90, 103, or 110 dB SPL. Cochlear function was assessed using the compound action potential audiogram before and after exposure. There was no change in blood flow in the second turn with a 2, 4, or 12 kHz tone but there was a significant (P < 0.05) decline in flow in the first cochlear turn at the end of either the 12 kHz tone or high-pass noise exposure at 103 and 110 dB SPL. There were elevations in the thresholds of the cochlear compound action potential after all but the 90 dB exposures to 12 kHz or high-pass noise. No such changes were observed in blood flow or electrophysiology in control animals. These findings demonstrate that there is a small but significant decline in cochlear blood flow with high intensity sound exposure. However, the relationship between this change in blood flow and the development of cochlear damage is unclear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalHearing Research
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acoustic trauma
  • Cochlear blood flow
  • Compound action potential
  • Guinea pig
  • Laser Doppler flowmeter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sensory Systems

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