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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage
Published on: February 10, 2023
Noise in animal facilities: why it matters
Jeremy G Turner1, Carol A Bauer, Leonard P Rybak
1Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA. jturner@siumed.edu
Summary
Environmental noise impacts laboratory animal health, affecting their endocrine, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems. Routine noise monitoring in animal facilities is crucial for understanding and improving the animal research environment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Animal Behavior
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Environmental noise in animal facilities can negatively impact animal physiology and behavior.
- Auditory perception is critical for animal well-being and research outcomes.
- The effects of noise extend beyond audibility, influencing multiple physiological systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the wide-ranging effects of environmental noise on laboratory animals.
- To emphasize the importance of routine noise monitoring in animal facilities.
- To introduce the topic of noise and its impact on animals in research settings.
Main Methods:
- This work synthesizes existing knowledge on the effects of noise on animals.
- It reviews the physiological and behavioral consequences of noise exposure.
- The focus is on the implications for laboratory animal welfare and research integrity.
Main Results:
- Noise exposure can disrupt endocrine, reproductive, and cardiovascular functions.
- Sleep/wake cycles and animal communication can be disturbed by noise.
- These effects underscore the significance of the acoustic environment for laboratory animals.
Conclusions:
- Environmental noise poses a significant welfare and scientific concern in animal research.
- Regular noise monitoring is essential for characterizing and stabilizing the animal facility environment.
- Further attention to the acoustic environment is necessary for reliable and ethical animal research.
