Alternating current induced otoacoustic emissions in the guinea pig

Injection of alternating current (AC) into the scala media of the guinea pig cochlea induced otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) at the frequency of the AC fundamental, together with harmonic and intermodulation distortion products. Although the waveform of the injected ACs was distorted, probably due to nonlinear polarization of the metal electrodes, and was composed of the fundamental plus distortion products of every order, only a few of the lowest order distortion products were selectively emitted with the fundamental. AC injection at a basal site extended the high frequency limit of OAEs. Electrical stimulation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle inhibited the sideband emissions with little change in the fundamental. OAE was reduced reversibly by temporary impairment of the cochlea due to exposure to fatiguing sound, by intravenous application of furosemide and by temporary anoxia. Irreversible reduction resulted from intracochlear perfusion with excess K+ solution, acoustic trauma and cardiac arrest. These facts imply that AC-induced OAE is not an artifact generated electrically; rather, such emissions originate in the cochlea and normal metabolic activity in the cochlea is essential. A proposed mechanism of generation includes two components: 1) electromechanical transduction from AC to mechanical vibration in the cochlea and 2) a distortion-producing process; the contribution of each component to the receptor mechanism is discussed.