The term augmented acoustic environment (AAE) describes a period of controlled, nontraumatic acoustic stimulation. With an appropriate AAE, the auditory system of many hearing-impaired individuals can continue to be stimulated despite threshold elevations. The goal of the proposed research is to determine if AAEs can alter the time course and severity of progressive hearing loss and associated central changes such as neuronal degeneration in the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) and hearing-loss-induced plasticity in the inferior colliculus (IC), which we have - previously demonstrated in mice with age-related sensorineural hearing loss (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and BALB/CJ strains). They will be evaluated with auditory brainstem response thresholds, spiral ganglion cell counts, compound action potentials, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, histology of the AVCN, electrophysiological mapping of tonotopic organization in the AVCN and IC, and behaviorally by the amplitude of the acoustic startle response and by prepulse inhibition.
The aims are to obtain a better understanding of how the severity of sensorineural hearing loss is related to the ability of AAEs to modulate progressive cochlear and central changes, determine the relationship between the frequency spectrum of AAEs and changes in the auditory system associated with high-frequency hearing loss, determine if AAEs can modify the slowly progressing, late-onset hearing loss in aging CBA mice, and determine the outcomes of other parametric manipulations of AAES, such as the intensity, minimal duration, and temporal modulation of AAE stimuli. Because amplification (e.g., hearing-aids) is commonly given to presbycusis patients and others with sensorineural hearing loss, determining the effects of AAEs (good or bad) on the auditory system has great potential clinical importance.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG007554-12
Application #
2909623
Study Section
Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)
Project Start
1988-05-01
Project End
2001-04-30
Budget Start
1999-05-01
Budget End
2000-04-30
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northern Illinois University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
De Kalb
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60115
Willott, James F; Vandenbosche, Justine; Shimizu, Toru (2010) Effects of a high-frequency augmented acoustic environment on parvalbumin immunolabeling in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice. Hear Res 261:36-41
Willott, James F (2009) Effects of sex, gonadal hormones, and augmented acoustic environments on sensorineural hearing loss and the central auditory system: insights from research on C57BL/6J mice. Hear Res 252:89-99
Willott, James F; VandenBosche, Justine; Shimizu, Toru et al. (2008) Effects of exposing C57BL/6J mice to high- and low-frequency augmented acoustic environments: auditory brainstem response thresholds, cytocochleograms, anterior cochlear nucleus morphology and the role of gonadal hormones. Hear Res 235:60-71
Willott, James F (2007) Factors affecting hearing in mice, rats, and other laboratory animals. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 46:23-7
Willott, James F; VandenBosche, Justine; Shimizu, Toru et al. (2006) Effects of exposing gonadectomized and intact C57BL/6J mice to a high-frequency augmented acoustic environment: Auditory brainstem response thresholds and cytocochleograms. Hear Res 221:73-81
Willott, James F; Bosch, Justine Vanden; Shimizu, Toru et al. (2006) Effects of exposing DBA/2J mice to a high-frequency augmented acoustic environment on the cochlea and anteroventral cochlear nucleus. Hear Res 216-217:138-45
Willott, James F; Bross, Lori S; McFadden, Sandra (2005) Ameliorative effects of exposing DBA/2J mice to an augmented acoustic environment on histological changes in the cochlea and anteroventral cochlear nucleus. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 6:234-43
Idrizbegovic, Esma; Bogdanovic, Nenad; Willott, James F et al. (2004) Age-related increases in calcium-binding protein immunoreactivity in the cochlear nucleus of hearing impaired C57BL/6J mice. Neurobiol Aging 25:1085-93
Willott, James F; Bross, Lori (2004) Effects of prolonged exposure to an augmented acoustic environment on the auditory system of middle-aged C57BL/6J mice: cochlear and central histology and sex differences. J Comp Neurol 472:358-70
Chisolm, Theresa Hnath; Willott, Janes F; Lister, Jennifer J (2003) The aging auditory system: anatomic and physiologic changes and implications for rehabilitation. Int J Audiol 42 Suppl 2:2S3-10

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