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Data Acquisition and Analysis In Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry In Mice
Published on: May 10, 2019
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Aging But Not Age-Related Hearing Loss Dominates the Decrease of Parvalbumin Immunoreactivity in the Primary Auditory
Meike M Rogalla1, K Jannis Hildebrandt2
1Department of Neuroscience, Division of Auditory Neuroscience, and Cluster of Excellence, Hearing4all, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg 26129, Germany meike.rogalla@uni-oldenburg.de.
Eneuro
|April 25, 2020
Summary
Reduced parvalbumin (PV) in the auditory cortex is a marker of general aging, not age-related hearing loss. This study found PV+ interneuron density decreased in aged mice regardless of hearing status.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Auditory System
Background:
- Alterations in inhibitory circuits of the primary auditory cortex (pAC) are linked to aging and age-related hearing loss (AHL).
- Previous studies suggest a correlation between reduced auditory sensitivity and decreased parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactivity in aged rodents with AHL.
- It is unclear whether AHL or general molecular aging drives this PV decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate the impact of AHL versus general aging on PV immunoreactivity in the mouse pAC.
- To investigate PV immunoreactivity patterns in inhibitory interneurons within the pAC.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of young and old mice from two lines: C57BL/6 (susceptible to AHL) and C57B6.CAST-Cdh23 (resistant to AHL).
- Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were used to assess hearing status.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of PV immunoreactivity in two dimensions (rostro-caudal and cortical layer) of the pAC.
Main Results:
- ABR measurements confirmed AHL in C57BL/6 mice.
- Both aged mouse lines, irrespective of AHL, exhibited a similar reduction in the number and density of PV+ interneurons.
- The pattern of PV+ interneuron reduction was consistent across the rostro-caudal axis and cortical layers in both aged groups.
Conclusions:
- Reduced PV immunoreactivity in the pAC is a consequence of general molecular aging.
- The decline in PV immunoreactivity is not directly caused by age-related hearing loss.
