Publication Date

1993

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Willott, James F.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Cochlear nucleus; Hearing disorders; Auditory pathways

Abstract

The effects of cochlear damage on the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) were determined. Anatomical features (neuron size, neuron number, and AVCN volume) of the AVCN were examined in adult CBA/J mice which had been exposed to a brief but intense noise, sufficient to produce permanent damage to the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion cells of the cochlea. Mice of the following groups were used: noise exposed at 6 months, euthanized at 11 months; noise exposed at 11 months, euthanized at 24 months; noise exposed at 6 months, euthanized at 24 months. AVCNs of these groups of animals will be compared with one another and with their like-aged, nonexposed counterparts (11 and 24 month CBA/J mice). Cochlear damage resulted in a significant reduction in AVCN volume and neuron size, with complementary increases in neuronal packing density. The number of surviving AVCN neurons was not affected by cochlear damage. The age of onset of cochlear damage influenced the degree to which volume of the AVCN was reduced, but did not affect changes in cell size that resulted from cochlear damage. The effects of cochlear damage on AVCN volume and neuron size were not affected by the duration of time following induction of cochlear damage, and the effects of aging and cochlear damage on the AVCN were not additive.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [46]-50)

Extent

v, 53 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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