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Primary afferent dendrite degeneration as a cause of tinnitus
Author(s) -
Bauer Carol A.,
Brozoski Thomas J.,
Myers Kristin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.21259
Subject(s) - tinnitus , audiology , context (archaeology) , hearing loss , medicine , inner ear , degeneration (medical) , neuroscience , psychology , pathology , anatomy , biology , paleontology
Abstract Chronic tinnitus affects millions of people, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of this abnormal sensory state remain poorly understood. This study examined the type and extent of cochlear damage that occurs after acoustic trauma sufficient to induce chronic tinnitus in rats. Tinnitus was evaluated by using a conditioned suppression method of behavioral testing. Cochlear damage was assessed 6 months after acoustic trauma. There was minimal loss of inner and outer hair cells in the exposed cochleas of subjects demonstrating evidence of tinnitus. However, a significant loss of large‐diameter fibers in the osseous spiral lamina of exposed cochleas of trauma subjects was observed. The significance of this finding in the context of a model of tinnitus is discussed. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.