Recording of electrocochleography from the facial nerve canal in mice

The ever-expanding arsenal of genetically modified mice has created experimental models for studying various mechanisms of deafness. Electrocochleography (ECochG) is a recording technique of cochlear potentials evoked by sound stimulation, which was widely used to evaluate the cochlear hearing function. However, there is currently a lack of information on long-term recording technology of ECochG in mice.

We describe in detail the surgical procedure of implanting electrode into the facial nerve canal in C57BL/6J mice for ECochG recording. The results of ECochG recorded by electrode in the facial nerve canal were compared with ECochG guided by electrode on the round window niche.

The surgical method of inserting the electrode into the facial nerve canal is relatively simple and can be completed within 15 min. The electrode inserted into the elongated facial nerve canal is stable and close to the auditory nerve trunk, so it is conducive to long-term auditory function monitoring. Hence, the ECochG guided by the electrode from the facial nerve canal can maintain a stable response for more than two weeks. In contrast, the ECochG guided by the electrode in the round window niche can only be maintained for a maximum of 20 min.

In mice, existing recording techniques of ECochG from round window niche is limited by conductive hearing loss due to middle ear effusion or surgical damage.

ECochG recording from the facial nerve canal is suitable for long-term recording in mice. This electrode approach provides a repeatable and reliable measurement of ECochG.