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The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test, Supplementary to Behavioral Tests for Evaluation of the Salicylate-Induced Tinnitus

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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tinnitus is a symptom of various disorders that affects the quality of life of millions people. Given the significance of the access to an objective and non-invasive method for tinnitus detection, in this study the auditory brainstem response (ABR) electrophysiological test was used to diagnose salicylate-induced tinnitus, in parallel with common behavioral tests. Wistar rats were divided into saline (n = 7), and salicylate (n = 7) groups for behavioral tests, and salicylate group (n = 5) for the ABR test. The rats were evaluated by pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), gap pre-pulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (GPIAS), and ABR tests, at baseline, 14 and 62 h after salicylate (350 mg/kg) or vehicle injection. The mean percentage of GPIAS test was significantly reduced following salicylate administration, which confirms the induction of tinnitus. The ABR test results showed an increase in the hearing threshold at click and 8, 12, and 16 kHz tones. Moreover, a decline was observed in the latency ratio of II-I waves in all tone burst frequencies with the highest variation in 12 and 16 kHz as well as a decrement in the latency ratio of III-I and IV-I only in 12 and 16 kHz. ABR test is able to evaluate the salicylate induced tinnitus pitch and confirm the results of behavioral tinnitus tests. GPIAS reflexive response is dependent on brainstem circuits and the auditory cortex while, ABR test can demonstrate the function of the auditory brainstem in more details, and therefore, a combination of these two tests can offer a more accurate tinnitus evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Mitra Rezapour & Mehdi Akbari

  2. Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Leila Dargahi

  3. Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Ismail Zibaii

  4. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Ali Shahbazi

  5. Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Ali Shahbazi

Authors
  1. Mitra Rezapour
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  2. Mehdi Akbari
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  3. Leila Dargahi
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  4. Mohammad Ismail Zibaii
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  5. Ali Shahbazi
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. All the authors have read the manuscript and have approved this submission. We further confirm that any aspect of the work covered in this manuscript that has involved experimental animals has been conducted with the ethical approval of all relevant bodies and that such approvals are acknowledged within the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mehdi Akbari.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Ethics Approval

This study is part of Mitra Rezapour's Ph.D dissertation in the field of audiology at Iran University of Medical Sciences. All experiments were carried out based on the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (National Institutes of Health Publication No. 80–23, revised 1978) and confirmed by the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR.IUMS.REC.1399.402).

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Rezapour, M., Akbari, M., Dargahi, L. et al. The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test, Supplementary to Behavioral Tests for Evaluation of the Salicylate-Induced Tinnitus. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 75 (Suppl 1), 6–15 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-022-03117-x

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