Regulation of dopamine D2 receptors in the guinea pig cochlea

Abstract

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the regulation of D2 receptors may be frequency specific. The reduction in cochlear microphonics (CM) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) amplitudes after perfusion with a D2 antagonist suggests that this receptor plays a role in the regulation of cochlear hair cell activation. Objectives: Dopaminergic terminals are subject to negative feedback from dopamine D2 receptors. In the present study we investigated whether the regulation of dopamine D2 receptor is frequency specific and evaluated changes in CM in guinea pig cochlea. Methods: A total of 30 male guinea pigs were randomly assigned to 3 groups and perfused with artificial perilymph (AP), AP containing ethanol (0.1%), or a D2 antagonist (L741626) for 2 h. In each group, compound action potentials (CAPs) evoked by a 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 24 kHz tone pip, CM evoked by 4 kHz tone bursts, and DPOAEs were measured before and 2 h after perilymphatic perfusion. Results: Perfusion with the D2 antagonist resulted in increased CAP thresholds compared with the other two groups at high frequencies (4, 8, 16, 24 kHz, p < 0.05); however, no significant increase was observed at low frequencies (1, 2 kHz, p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in DPOAEs and CM amplitudes after the 2 h perfusion with the D2 antagonist. A CM input/output (I/O) function curve plotted with the stimulating level as input and the CM relative amplitude as output indicated obvious nonlinearity after the 2 h perfusion in all three groups.

Keywords::

• Dopamine
• compound action potential
• cochlear microphonics
• distortion product otoacoustic emissions

Acknowledgments

This study was accomplished in the Institute of Otolaryngology in the Chinese PLA General Hospital, China. The authors thank Mr Li Xingqi for commenting on the manuscript and many discussions about the paper. The work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [81170905].

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.