Inner ear test battery in guinea pig models – a review

Abstract

Objective: This study reviewed the development of the inner ear test battery comprising auditory brainstem response (ABR), and caloric, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tests in guinea pig models at our laboratory over the last 20 years. Detailed description of the methodology for testing the small animals is also included.

Methods: Inner ear disorders, i.e. ototoxicity, noise exposure, or perilymph fistula were established in guinea pig models first. One to four weeks after operation, each animal underwent ABR, oVEMP, cVEMP, and caloric tests. Then, animals were sacrificed for morphological study in the temporal bones.

Results: Inner ear endorgans can be comprehensively evaluated in guinea pig models via an inner ear test battery, which provides thorough information on the cochlea, saccule, utricle, and semicircular canal function of guinea pigs. Coupled with morphological study in the temporal bones of the animals may help elucidate the mechanism of inner ear disorders in humans.

Conclusions: The inner ear test battery in guinea pig models may encourage young researchers to perform basic study in animals and stimulate the progress of experimental otology which is in evolution.

Chinese abstract

目的：本研究回顾了内耳测试电池的发展, 包括过去20年中在我们的实验室对豚鼠进行的听觉脑干反应（ABR）、热量、眼前庭诱发肌源电位（oVEMP）和颈前庭诱发肌源电位（cVEMP）测试。本文还包括小动物测试方法的详细描述。

方法：首先在豚鼠模型中设立内耳障碍, 即耳毒性、噪声环境或外淋巴瘘（PLF）。术后1至4周, 对每只动物进行ABR、oVEMP、cVEMP和热量测试。然后, 将动物用作颞骨形态学研究。

结果：豚鼠耳蜗内耳可以通过内耳测试电池在豚鼠模型内进行综合评估, 提供豚鼠耳蜗、球囊、囊泡和半规管功能的全面信息, 和动物颞骨的形态学研究一起, 可能有助于阐明人类内耳疾病的机制。

结论：豚鼠模型的内耳测试电池可能鼓励年轻研究人员从事动物基础研究, 促进正在发展中的实验耳科的进程。

Keywords:

• Auditory brainstem response
• animal model
• caloric test
• guinea pig
• cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential
• ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential
• inner ear disorder

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan [MOST 105-2314-B-002-163-MY3].