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Otoacoustic emissions in African mole-rats.

Geoffrey A Manley1, Bert Maat2, Sabine Begall3

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, and Cluster of Excellence "Hearing for All", University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.

Hearing Research
|March 23, 2024
PubMed
Summary

African mole-rats possess typical hearing abilities, contrary to previous assumptions. Their cochleae can generate otoacoustic emissions, similar to other mammals, despite unique ear canal morphology.

Keywords:
DPOAEMole-ratsOtoacoustic emissionsRodent hearingSFOAE

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Area of Science:

  • Auditory Neuroscience
  • Mammalian Hearing
  • Otoacoustic Emissions

Background:

  • African mole-rats have specialized hearing with low sensitivity and a narrow frequency range (<10 kHz).
  • Previous studies suggested some species lack distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), implying no cochlear amplification.
  • This interpretation is challenged by theoretical models and existing experimental data on DPOAE generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of otoacoustic emissions in African mole-rats.
  • To determine if their cochleae exhibit amplification, challenging previous assumptions.
  • To describe the unique morphology of their external ear canals and its potential impact on measurements.

Main Methods:

  • Measured distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAE).
  • Tested three species: Ansell's mole-rat (Fukomys anselli), Mashona mole-rat (Fukomys darlingi), and naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber).
  • Included morphological description of the animals' external ear canals.

Main Results:

  • African mole-rats exhibited unexceptional DPOAE and SFOAE values.
  • Both DPOAE and SFOAE showed peak amplitudes around 1 kHz, aligning with their best hearing frequencies.
  • Measurements were challenging due to the animals' long, narrow, and curved ear canals.

Conclusions:

  • The cochlea of African mole-rats can generate evoked otoacoustic emissions, similar to other mammals.
  • The findings refute the hypothesis that these species lack cochlear amplification.
  • The unique ear canal morphology necessitates specific measurement considerations but does not alter fundamental auditory capabilities.