Abstract
Quantitative cytochemical studies of RNA alterations in individual spiral ganglion neurons (apical, middle, and basal turns) of 20 adult Wistar rats were made at 1-, 4-, 8-, and 24-h intervals after a 60-min exposure to intense noise (120 dB unweighted, re 20 μN/m2, 800–20 000 Hz). RNA was quantified using the two wavelength method of microspectrophotometry on DNase-pretreated azure-B stained midmodiolar sections. Other aspects included measures of spiral ganglion neuronal perikaryon volume changes and cytomorphological examination of cochlear hair cells. The data revealed a progressive reduction in RNA content of spiral ganglion neurons at 4-, 8-, and 24-h intervals; (2) a decrease in perikaryon volume evidenced at all four intervals; (3) an identical pattern and extent of RNA and volume changes evidenced in spiral ganglion neurons of apical, middle, and basal cochlear turns. No hair-cell disruption or related cytological evidence of pathology was evidenced. The data indicate that intense noise causes a marked inhibition of spiral ganglion functioning in the absence of hair-cell disruption.
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