The protective effect of moderate noisy backgrounds for certain period on hearing after exposure to a traumatic noise in guinea pig / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the protective effect of moderate noisy backgrounds on guinea pig's hearing after an exposure to a traumatic noise. Methods Thirty guinea pigs were randomly divided into five groups (6 each). Animals in group A, B, C and D were subjected to noise of 84 decibels sound pressure level (dB SPL) for 4, 8, 24 and 0 hour respectively after a traumatic exposure of 110 dB SPL, and those in group E were kept in quiet environment. Distortion product oto-acoustic emission (DPOAE) amplitudes were determined on 1 day prior, and 1 and 7 days after noise exposure. Blood plasma was obtained to determine the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of hemocuprein (SOD) and nitricoxide synthase (NOS) at the end of the experiment. Results Noise-induced hearing loss was caused in group D after a traumatic exposure. At the 1st and 7th day after exposure, DPOAE amplitudes were higher in group A and B than in group D, especially at high frequencies, while no significant difference was observed between group C and D. At the 7th day after exposure, the activity of SOD lowered, while the content of MDA increased in group A and B as compared with group E (P<0.05). The content of MDA in group A increased as compared with group D (P<0.05). Conclusion After the traumatic noise-exposure, the recovery of noise-induced hearing loss, especially the high-frequency hearing loss could be motivated when exposed to noise at 84 dB SPL for 4 or 8 hours.