OCT imaging of endolymphatic hydrops in mice: association with hearing loss

AbstractBackground The etiology of Ménière’s disease (MD) is still not completely clear, but it is believed to be associated with endolymphatic hydrops (EH), which is characterized by auditory functional disorders. Vasopressin injection in C57BL/6J mice can induce EH and serve as a model for MD. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has shown its advantages as a non-invasive imaging method for observing EH.AimInvestigating the relationship between hearing loss and EH to assist clinical hearing assessments and indicate the severity of hydrops.Methods C57BL/6J mice received 50 μg/100g/day vasopressin injections to induce EH. Auditory function was assessed using auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). OCT was used to visualize the cochlea.Result OCT observed accumulation of fluid within the scala media in the cochlear apex. ABR showed significant hearing loss after 4 weeks. DPOAE revealed low-frequency hearing loss at 2 weeks and widespread damage across frequencies at 4 weeks.Conclusion The development of hearing loss in mouse models of MD is consistent with EH manifestations.SignificanceThis study demonstrates the possibility of indirectly evaluating the extent of EH through auditory assessment and emphasizes the significant value of OCT for imaging cochlear structures.Chinese Abstract背景梅尼埃病(MD)的病因尚不完全清楚, 但被认为是与内淋巴积水(EH)相关, 其特征是听觉功能障碍。对C57BL/6J 小鼠注射加压素可诱导 EH, 并可作为 MD 模型。 光学相干性断层扫描 (OCT) 作为观察 EH 的非侵入性成像方法已显示出其优势。目的研究听力损失与 EH 之间的关系, 以协助临床听力评估并标示水肿的严重程度。方法C57BL/6J小鼠接受50μg/100g/天加压素注射诱导EH。使用听觉脑干反应(ABR)和失真产物耳声发射(DPOAE)进行听觉功能评估。 OCT 用于观察耳蜗。结果OCT 观察到耳蜗尖部耳蜗管中积液。 ABR显示4周后听力明显下降。 DPOAE 显示2 周时低频听力损失, 4 周时各频率处都出现损害。结论MD小鼠模型的听力损失的发展与EH表现相一致。意义本研究证明了通过听觉测试来间接评估EH程度的可能性, 并强调 OCT 对耳蜗结构成像的重要价值。Keywords: Ménière’s diseasevasopressinendolymphatic hydropshearing lossOCT Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81971698].