Auditory function in the C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeSnJ mouse strains
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Updated: Nov 4, 2026
Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea
Published on: May 10, 2019
D R Trune1, J B Kempton, C Mitchell
1Oregon Hearing Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA.
Abstract:
The C3H inbred mouse strain arose in 1920 and includes several substrains, such as the C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeSnJ variants. However, use of these C3H mice in hearing research has been limited because their auditory function has not been described. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize auditory function in two C3H representative substrains. C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeSnJ mice were obtained from Jackson Laboratories for auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing at ages from 2 to 30 months. Animals were tested with tone bursts at frequencies of 4,8,16,24, and 32 kHz. These early responses were evaluated for age-related threshold shifts as an index of peripheral auditory function. Both strains show normal sensitivity up to 14 months of age. Thresholds for both strains were slightly elevated at most frequencies at 18 months. C3H/HeSnJ mice tested at 30 months demonstrated little hearing function due to extensive sensorineural degeneration. Thus, these C3H strains maintain excellent cochlear function past 1 year of age.
