Time-related changes in the guinea pig cochlea after acoustic overstimulation

Forty-eight female pigmented guinea pigs were used to study the development of the morphologic and electrophysiologic changes occurring during a 4-week period after exposure to a 3.85-kHz pure tone at an intensity of 120 dB sound pressure level for 22.5 minutes. The morphologic results suggest an alteration in the permeability of ions between the inner ear fluids through gradual development of holes in the reticular lamina.