A novel behavioural approach to detecting tinnitus in the guinea pig.
J Neurosci Methods
; 213(2): 188-95, 2013 Mar 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23291084
ABSTRACT
Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of an external stimulus, is a particularly challenging condition to demonstrate in animals. In any animal model, objective confirmation of tinnitus is essential before we can study the neural changes that produce it. A gap detection method, based on prepulse inhibition of the whole-body startle reflex, is often used as a behavioural test for tinnitus in rodents. However, in the guinea pig the whole-body startle reflex is subject to rapid habituation and hence is not an ideal behavioural measure. By contrast, in this species the Preyer or pinna reflex is a very reliable indicator of the startle response and is much less subject to habituation. We have developed a novel adaptation of the gap detection paradigm, which uses the Preyer reflex to measure the startle response, rather than whole-body movement. Using this method, we have demonstrated changes in gap detection, in guinea pigs where tinnitus had been induced by the administration of a high dose of salicylate. Our data indicate that the Preyer reflex gap detection method is a reliable test for tinnitus in guinea pigs.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reflexo de Sobressalto
/
Zumbido
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Comportamento Animal
/
Modelos Animais de Doenças
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neurosci Methods
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article