An ipsilateral cochlear efferent loop protects the cochlea during intense sound exposure
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J L Puel1, R P Bobbin, M Fallon
1Louisiana State University Medical School, Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology and Biocommunication, New Orleans 70112-2234.
Abstract:
One suggested physiological function of the efferent nerve fibers innervating the cochlea is that they protect the cochlea against the effects of intense sound exposure. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of intense sound in the presence and in the absence of strychnine which blocks the efferent nerve fibers. The results show that in presence of strychnine an ipsilateral intense sound has a greater effect on the cochlea than in the absence of strychnine. We conclude that the ipsilateral cochlear efferents may act as protectors against intense sound exposure.