Frequency-specific auditory brainstem response analysis of young normal, aged normal and aged alcohol-addicted rats

Normative data for frequency-specific (+/- 100 Hz) auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were determined in 60 normal healthy 3-month-old, 5 normal 22-month-old and 6 alcohol-addicted 22-month-old Sprague Dawley rats. The highest degree of auditory sensitivity was in the range of 12-20 kHz. These frequencies showed significant mean differences between the 3-month-old and the old normal rats. In contrast, alcohol-addicted old rats did not reveal any significant threshold changes as compared with either normal old or 3-month-old rats.