Effects of Intense Infrasound on Auditory Function in Guinea Pigs

Objective To define the effects of intense infrasound on auditory function in guinea pigs.Methods Fifteen albino guinea pigs were involved in the study.The animals were exposed to 8Hz infrasound at 135dB SPL for 90 minutes in a reverberant chamber.The auditory brainstem response(ABR)and distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE)were detected preexposure and at 0(within two hours)、2 and 5 day after exposure.Results No differences in the ABR thresholds,the latencies and the interval peak latencies of Ⅰ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ waves were found between the normal and among the experimental groups.The amplitudes of DPOAE at any frequency declined remarkably in all experimental groups.Conclusion Intense infrasound could decrease the function of OHCs in the organ of Corti,although the changes in the auditory thresholds,the latencies and the interval peak latencies of Ⅰ,Ⅲ,Ⅴ waves failed to reach the significance.