Dataset Information

The impact of size on middle-ear sound transmission in elephants, the largest terrestrial mammal.

ABSTRACT: Elephants have a unique auditory system that is larger than any other terrestrial mammal. To quantify the impact of larger middle ear (ME) structures, we measured 3D ossicular motion and ME sound transmission in cadaveric temporal bones from both African and Asian elephants in response to air-conducted (AC) tonal pressure stimuli presented in the ear canal (PEC). Results were compared to similar measurements in humans. Velocities of the umbo (VU) and stapes (VST) were measured using a 3D laser Doppler vibrometer in the 7-13,000 Hz frequency range, stapes velocity serving as a measure of energy entering the cochlea-a proxy for hearing sensitivity. Below the elephant ME resonance frequency of about 300 Hz, the magnitude of VU/PEC was an order of magnitude greater than in human, and the magnitude of VST/PEC was 5x greater. Phase of VST/PEC above ME resonance indicated that the group delay in elephant was approximately double that of human, which may be related to the unexpectedly high magnitudes at high frequencies. A boost in sound transmission across the incus long process and stapes near 9 kHz was also observed. We discuss factors that contribute to differences in sound transmission between these two large mammals.

SUBMITTER: O'Connell-Rodwell CE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11006165 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The impact of size on middle-ear sound transmission in elephants, the largest terrestrial mammal.

O'Connell-Rodwell Caitlin E CE Berezin Jodie L JL Dharmarajan Anbuselvan A Ravicz Michael E ME Hu Yihan Y Guan Xiying X O'Connor Kevin N KN Puria Sunil S

PloS one 20240410 4

Elephants have a unique auditory system that is larger than any other terrestrial mammal. To quantify the impact of larger middle ear (ME) structures, we measured 3D ossicular motion and ME sound transmission in cadaveric temporal bones from both African and Asian elephants in response to air-conducted (AC) tonal pressure stimuli presented in the ear canal (PEC). Results were compared to similar measurements in humans. Velocities of the umbo (VU) and stapes (VST) were measured using a 3D laser D ...[more]

PMID: 38598472

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Project description:Objective: Otitis media is known to alter expression of cytokine and other genes in the mouse middle ear and inner ear. However, whole mouse genome studies of gene expression in otitis media have not previously been undertaken. Ninety-nine percent of mouse genes are shared in the human, so these studies are relevant to the human condition. Methods: To assess inflammation-driven processes in the mouse ear, gene chip analyses were conducted on mice treated with trans-tympanic heat-killed Hemophilus influenza using untreated mice as controls. Middle and inner ear tissues were separately harvested at 6 hours, RNA extracted, and samples for each treatment processed on the Affymetrix 430 2.0 Gene Chip for expression of its 34,000 genes. Results: Statistical analysis of gene expression compared to control mice showed significant alteration of gene expression in 2,355 genes, 11% of the genes tested and 8% of the mouse genome. Significant middle and inner ear upregulation (fold change >1.5, p<0.05) was seen in 1,081 and 599 genes respectively. Significant middle and inner ear downregulation (fold change <0.67, p<0.05) was seen in 978 and 287 genes respectively. While otitis media is widely believed to be an exclusively middle ear process with little impact on the inner ear, the inner ear changes noted in this study were numerous and discrete from the middle ear responses. This suggests that the inner ear does indeed respond to otitis media and that its response is a distinctive process. Numerous new genes, previously not studied, are found to be affected by inflammation in the ear. Conclusion: Whole genome analysis via gene chip allows simultaneous examination of expression of hundreds of gene families influenced by inflammation in the middle ear. Discovery of new gene families affected by inflammation may lead to new approaches to the study and treatment of otitis media. There are 8 control samples and 9 samples trans-tympanically injected with H flu 10e9 for 6 hours. Each sample is from a single animal.

Dataset Information

The impact of size on middle-ear sound transmission in elephants, the largest terrestrial mammal.

Publications

The impact of size on middle-ear sound transmission in elephants, the largest terrestrial mammal.

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