Ontogenetic development of the auditory sensory organ in zebrafish (Danio rerio): changes in hearing sensitivity and related morphology.

ABSTRACT: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an important model organism in hearing research. However, data on the hearing sensitivity of zebrafish vary across different reports. In the present study, the hearing sensitivity of zebrafish was examined by analysing the auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) over a range of total lengths (TLs) from 12 to 46 mm. Morphological changes in the hair cells (HCs) of the saccule (the main auditory end organ) and their synapses with primary auditory neurons were investigated. The AEPs were detected up to a much higher frequency limit (12 kHz) than previously reported. No significant difference in the frequency response range was observed across the TL range examined. However, the AEP thresholds demonstrated both developmental improvement and age-related loss of hearing sens

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4630651 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature