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Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea
Published on: May 10, 2019
Synaptic ribbon dynamics after noise exposure in the hearing cochlea
Noura Ismail Mohamad1, Peu Santra1, Yesai Park1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Moderate noise exposure induces cochlear synaptopathy, the loss of afferent ribbon synapses between cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, which is associated with functional hearing decline. Prior studies have demonstrated noise-induced changes in the distribution and number of synaptic components, but the dynamic changes that occur after noise exposure have not been directly visualized. Here, we describe a live imaging model using RIBEYE-tagRFP to enable direct observation of pre-synaptic ribbons in mature hearing mouse cochleae after synaptopathic noise exposure. Ribbon number does not change, but noise induces an increase in ribbon volume as well as movement suggesting unanchoring from synaptic tethers. A subgroup of basal ribbons displays concerted motion towards the cochlear nucleus with subsequent migration back to the cell membrane after noise cessation. Understanding the immediate dynamics of synaptic damage after noise exposure may facilitate identification of specific target pathways to treat cochlear synaptopathy.
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