Abstract
BackgroundRecently it has been shown in animal studies that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of auditory structures was able to reduce tinnitus-like behavior. However, the question arises whether hearing might be impaired when interfering in auditory-related network loops with DBS.MethodsThe auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured in rats during high frequency stimulation (HFS) and low frequency stimulation (LFS) in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CIC, n = 5) or dentate cerebellar nucleus (DCBN, n = 5). Besides hearing thresholds using ABR, relative measures of latency and amplitude can be extracted from the ABR. In this study ABR thresholds, interpeak latencies (I–III, III–V, I–V) and V/I amplitude ratio were measured during off-stimulation state and during LFS and HFS.ResultsIn both the CIC and the CNBN groups, no significant differences were observed for all outcome measures.DiscussionDBS in both the CIC and the CNBN did not have adverse effects on hearing measurements. These findings suggest that DBS does not hamper physiological processing in the auditory circuitry.
Highlights
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in auditory structures has been performed in animal studies as a treatment for tinnitus (Luo et al, 2012; Smit et al, 2016)
No statistically significant differences were found during high frequency stimulation (HFS) and low frequency stimulation (LFS) compared to off-stimulation
Our results showed that LFS as well as HFS in the CIC and dentate cerebellar nucleus (DCBN) do not influence auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds, interpeak latencies and amplitude ratios in rats
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in auditory structures has been performed in animal studies as a treatment for tinnitus (Luo et al, 2012; Smit et al, 2016). The fundamental knowledge of the effect of deep DBS in auditory structures on hearing is essential before applying this treatment in a clinical setting (Smit et al, 2015). It has been shown in rats, using the sound-induced pre-pulse inhibition test with click stimuli, that during high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the external nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC) hearing thresholds did not change (Smit et al, 2016).
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