A method for constructing a mouse model of congenital hearing loss by bilateral cochlear ablation

Cochlear ablation is one of the most classic methods for the animal model establishment of hearing loss (HL), but the vast majority of rodents taken by cochlear ablation have been rats and adult mice so far. Given the importance of mice in HL studies, it is urgently necessary to expand the application of cochlear ablation in mice at different ages.

Bilateral cochlear ablation surgery was performed in C57BL/6 J mice before the onset of hearing at postnatal (P) day 10. Auditory brainstem response was performed to evaluate the hearing of mice. Open field test and swimming test were performed to examine the vestibular function of mice.

A permanent HL model was built by bilateral cochlear ablation in C57BL/6 J mice at P10. This method could successfully destroy cochlear hair cells and cause no vestibular deterioration in the adulthood of mice.

In addition to transgenic mice, permanently deaf mice used in this field in the existing studies are restricted to a time point after their ear canal opening. This study is the first to establish a congenital and permanent HL mouse model by cochlear ablation without gene modification.

Bilateral cochlear ablation in mice at P10 is an ideal and effective way for congenital HL mice model foundation, and the vestibular function seems not to be deteriorated.