Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-skm99 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T08:08:32.363Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cochlear interdependence and micromechanics in Man and their relations with the activity of the medial olivocochlear efferent system (MOES)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

G. Rossi ,
R. Actis ,
P. Solero ,
M. Rolando  and
M. D. Pejrone
G. Rossi*
Affiliation:
Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino (Italy).
R. Actis
Affiliation:
Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino (Italy).
P. Solero
Affiliation:
Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino (Italy).
M. Rolando
Affiliation:
Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino (Italy).
M. D. Pejrone
Affiliation:
Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino (Italy).
*
Professor Giovanni Rossi, Director, Institute of Audiology and Phonology, University of Turin, 3, v. Genova, 10126 Torino, Italy.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Following stimulation of one ear with white noise (WN) or 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz tone bursts a statistically valid mean reduction in the amplitude of delayed evoked otoacoustic emissions (DEOE), elicited from the contralateral ear by bursts of the same frequencies, was observed in 10 people (19–23-years-old) with normal hearing. This reduction only appeared in response to a contralateral stimulus delivered 7, 8 and 9 ms earlier than that used to produce the DEOE. This inhibitory effect was just referable to the activity of the medial olivocochlear efferent system (MOES). This research has shown that: (i) the cochlear interdependence is linked to activation of the MOES; (ii) in man the activity of MOES is inhibitory and only appears for a stimulus of the same frequency or (for WN) including that used to elicit DEOE; (iii) the cochlear interdependence is frequency selective and the MOES thus establishes a direct functional interdependence between homologous sectors of the organs of Corti on the two sides; (iv) DEOE would appear to be no more than partly generated by outer hair cells (OHC) of the organ of Corti in relation to the frequency of the stimulus employed, thus substantiating the hypothesis that in their production the effects of an 'active' mechanism, represented by the 'slow' contractile activity of the OHC, is overlain by those of a 'passive' mechanism formed by the oscillations induced by the movements of the stapes in the basilar membrane (BM) or in the set of membranes and liquids of cochlear canal.

Keywords

Cochlear micromechanicsMedial olivocochlear efferent systemEvoked otoacoustic emissions, delayedHair cells, outer
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 107 , Issue 10 , October 1993 , pp. 883 - 891
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Békésy, G. V. (1950) DC potentials and energy balance of the cochlear partition. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 22: 576–582.Google Scholar
Bonfils, P., Remond, M. C., Pujol, R. (1987) Variations of cochlear microphonic potential after sectioning efferent fibres to the cochlea. Hearing Research 30: 267–272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brownell, W. E., Bader, C. R., Bertrand, D., De Ribaupierre, Y. (1985) Evoked mechnical responses of isolated cochlear outer hair cells. Science 227: 194–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buno, W. (1978) Auditory nerve activity influenced by contralateral ear sound stimulation. Experimental Neurology 59: 62–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caird, D., Götti, K. H., Klinke, R. (1980) Interaural attenuation in the cat measured with single fibre data. Hearing Research 3: 257–263.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cody, A. R., Johnstone, B. M. (1982) Temporary threshold shift modified by binaural acoustic stimulation. Hearing Research 6: 199–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collet, L., Kemp, D. T., Veuillet, E., Duclaux, R., Moulin, A., Morgon, A. (1990) Effect of contralateral auditory stimuli on active cochlear micromechanical properties in human subjects. Hearing Research 43: 251–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davis, H. (1983) An active process in cochlear mechanics. Hearing Research 9: 79–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Desmedt, J. E. (1962) Auditory-evoked potentials from cochlea to cortex as influenced by activation of the efferent olivo-cochlear bundle. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 34: 1478–1496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dulon, J. M.Aran, J. M., Schacht, J. (1988) Potassium-depolarization induces motility in isolated outer hair cells by an osmotic mechanism. Hearing Research 32: 123–130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, E. F. (1970) Narrow ‘tuning’ of the responses of cochlear nerve fibres emanating from the exposed basilar membrane. Journal of Physiology 208: 75P–76P.Google ScholarPubMed
Fex, J. (1959) Augmentation of cochlear microphonics by stimulation of efferent fibres to the cochlea. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 50: 540–541.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flock, A., Breitscher, A., Weber, K. (1982) Immunohistochemical localization of several cytoskeletal proteins in inner ear sensory and supporting cells. Hearing Research 6: 75–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folsom, R. L., Owsley, R. M. (1987) N1 action potentials in humans: influence of simultaneous contralateral stimulation. Acta OtoLaryngologica 103: 262–265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frommer, G. (1984) Acoustic emission from an ear caused by mechanical stimulation of the basilar membrane. Audiologia Italiana 1: 27–31.Google Scholar
Guinan, J. J. Jr., Gifford, M. L. (1988a) Effects of electrical stimulation of efferent olivocochlear neurons on cat auditory-nerve fibres. I. Rate-level functions. Hearing Research 33: 97–114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guinan, J. J. Jr., Gifford, M. L. (1988b) Effects of electrical stimulation of efferent olivocochlear neurons on cat auditory-nerve fibres. II. Spontaneous rate. Hearing Research 33: 115–128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Innitzer, J., Ehrenberger, K. (1987) Functional evidence of efferent nerve endings in the human inner ear. In Inner Ear Biology. (Portmann, M., Aran, J.-M., eds.), vol. 68. INSERM, Paris, pp. 137–143.Google Scholar
Kemp, D. T. (1978) Stimulated acoustic emissions from the human auditory system. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 64: 1386–1391.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lim, D. J. (1986) Functional structure of the organ of Corti: a review. Hearing Research 22: 117–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mountain, D. C. (1980) Changes in endolymphatic potential and crossed olivocochlear bundle stimulation alters cochlear mechanics. Science 210: 71–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murata, K., Tanahashi, T., Horikawa, J., Funai, H. (1980) Mechanical and neural interactions between binaurally applied sounds in cat cochlear nerve fibres. Neuroscience Letters 18: 289–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norton, S. J., Neely, S. T. (1987) Tone-burst-evoked otoacoustic emissions from normal-hearing subjects. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 81: 1860–1872.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajan, R. (1988 a) Effect of electrical stimulation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle on temporary threshold shifts in auditory sensitivity. I. Dependence on electrical stimulation parameters. Journal of Neurophysiology 60: 549–568.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajan, R. (1988 b) Effect of electrical stimulation of the crossed olivocochlear bundle on temporary threshold shifts in auditory sensitivity. II. Dependence on the level of temporary threshold shift. Journal of Neurophysiology 60: 569–579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen, G. L. (1946) The olivary peduncle and other fibre projections of the superior olivary complex. Journal of Comparative Neurology 84: 141–219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rossi, G. (1962) L'acétylcholinestérase au cours du dévelopement de l'oreille interne du cobaye. Acta-Oto-Laryngologica 170 (suppl.): 1–91.Google Scholar
Rossi, G., Cortesina, G. (1963) Research on the efferent innervation of the inner ear. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 27: 202–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossi, G., Cortesina, G. (1965) The ‘efferent cochlear and vestibular system’ in Lepus cuniculus L. Acta Anatomica 60: 362–381.Google ScholarPubMed
Rossi, G., Voena, G., Cortesina, G., Buongiovanni, S. (1964) Changes in the cochlear microphonic potential due to resection of the efferent cochlear fibres. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 36: 1845–1849.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rossi, G., Solero, P., Rolando, M., Olina, M. (1989) Are delayed evoked oto-acoustic emissions (DEOE) solely the outcome of an active intracochlear mechanism? Scandinavian Audiology 18: 99–104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rossi, G., Solero, P., Rolando, M., Olina, M. (1991) Recovery time of the temporary threshold shift for delayed evoked otoacoustic emissions and tone bursts. ORL 53: 15–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegel, J. H., Kim, D. O. (1982) Efferent neural control of cochlear mechanics? Olivocochlear bundle stimulation affects cochlear biomechanical nonlinearity. Hearing Research 6: 171–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spoendlin, H. (1988) Biology of the vestibulocochlear nerve. In Otologic Medicine and Surgery. (Alberti, P. W., Ruben, R. J., eds.) vol. 1, Churchill Livingstone, New York, Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, pp. 117–150.Google Scholar
Tanaka, Y., O-Uchi, T., Arai, Y., Suzuki, J. (1987) Otoacoustic emissions as an indicator in evaluating inner ear impairments. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 103: 644–648.Google ScholarPubMed
Warr, W. B., Guinan, J. J. Jr. (1978) Efferent innervation of the organ of Corti: two separate systems. Brain Research 173: 152–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warr, W. B., Guinan, J. J. Jr., White, J. S. (1986) Organization of the efferent fibres: the lateral and medial olivocochlear systems. In Neurobiology of Hearing: The cochlea. (Altschuler, R., Bobbin, R., Hoffman, D., eds.), Raven Press, New York, pp. 333–348.Google Scholar
Zenner, H. P. (1988) Motility of outer hair cells as an active, actinmediated process. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 105: 39–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed