Effects of noise stimulation on cochlear dopamine metabolism

Dopamine (DA) appears to be one of the putative neurotransmitters of the lateral efferent olivocochlear fibers. However, its role in the cochlear physiology remains unknown. In this study, animals were exposed for 1 h to white noise at 70, 90 or 110 dB SPL or were kept in silence conditions. Afterwards, the cochlear content of DA and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were analyzed using HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection. Cochlear DA concentration decreased with the noise intensity, while cochlear DOPAC and HVA concentrations increased. Males presented higher cochlear DOPAC contents and lower HVA contents than females. This sexual dimorphism could be related to the link between DA and gonadal steroids. Present results show that DA, as other lateral efferent neurotransmitters, is released and metabolized in relationship with the noise stimulation, and suggest that DA could be involved in the modulation of the type I afferent fiber activity.