Noise-induced auditory loss: influence of genotype, naloxone and methyl-prednisolone.

Inbred strains of mice have several advantages as models for human noise-induced hearing loss. However, the isogenic nature of inbred lines is very unlike the human condition, and may make this species less valuable as an auditory model. The present experiments start with two mouse genotypes having lifelong normal cochlear functions: The CBA/CaJ and the AUS/sJ inbred strains. These strains and their F1 hybrid offspring were examined for noise-induced elevation of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold. The F1 line had an intermediate degree of loss and the most uniform high frequency cochlear loss. Methylprednisolone was found to protect the F1 from noise-induced losses, whereas naloxone did not.