Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in the CBA/J mouse model of presbycusis

CBA mice do not exhibit age-related loss of auditory sensitivity or cochlear pathology until relatively late in life. Therefore, this strain is believed to be an excellent animal model for the examination of the effects of age on the cochlea. To evaluate the effects of age on outer hair cell function, 2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured for f2 between 8 and 16 kHz in CBA/J mice between 1 and 25 months of age. CBA mice exhibited mild age-related changes in DPOAE level and detection threshold at 17 months of age, and changes of 20-40 dB by 25 months of age. The DPOAE level decreased and detection threshold increased with age in a frequency-dependent manner, starting at high frequencies and eventually extending to low frequencies. The range of frequencies in which notches were observed in the DPOAE input/output (I/O) functions extended toward lower frequencies by 17 months of age. Notches were absent in the I/O functions of 25-month-old mice. The present results for a frequency range of 8-16 kHz suggest that age has modest effects on outer hair cell function in CBA mice.