Comparison of the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) in taurine-deficient and taurine-supplemented cats

Abstract

We have studied the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) of fourteen female adult cats consuming a taurine-supplemented or a taurine-free diet. The BAERs were elicited by rarefaction clicks at different intensities ranging between 80 and 30 decibel peak equivalent sound-pressure levels (dB peak SPL). Ipsilateral and contralateral responses were obtained from the left ear. Recordings in which the ipsilateral BAERs were clearly measureable at 50, 70 and 80 dB peak SPL were included in the statistical analysis. The BAERs recorded from both groups of cats consisted of four subsequent waves (P1N1-P4N4). Cats fed taurine-free diets for a period of 16 months or longer appeared to have lower threshold, shorter peak latencies and shorter central conduction time (CCT) than cats fed the taurine-supplemented diet for the same period of time. These results suggest that decreased concentrations of taurine in the auditory system could lead to a deficiency in the acoustic reflex system.