Hearing Degeneration in Shaker-1 Mouse: Correlation of Physiological Observations With Behavioral Responses and With Cochlear Anatomy

Abstract

Introduction The studies of Deol have shown that the hereditary deafness in the Shaker-1 mouse is genetically recessive and is transmitted by both sexes.^1,2 He has also reported that the cochlea is histologically normal at the age at which deafness behaviorly becomes total, namely, at about 3 weeks of age. Later, the cochlear structures become atrophic. The anatomical and behavioral observations from this laboratory are in agreement with Deol's. The present investigation correlates these observations with the changes found at different ages in the cochlear potentials and the eighth nerve activity. A strain of normal CBA-J mice was used for comparison with the deaf mice. Method Sixteen litter groups of Shaker-1 mice were used, comprising 78 animals. Litters were used throughout so that the mice could be controlled with their siblings. The round window of the mouse was exposed by making a hole in the laterocaudal aspect of the