Mouse Auditory Testing Core Facility

National Institute On Deafness And Other Communication Disorders

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The Mouse Auditory Testing (MAT) Core assists investigators at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and their collaborators with tests of auditory and vestibular function in mice. Two physiological measures of auditory function are employed in the MAT Core: the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The ABR is an evoked potential that can be used to estimate hearing thresholds. DPOAEs are soft sounds that are recorded in the ear canal using a small microphone. DPOAEs can be used to screen for hearing loss and to evaluate inner ear function; specifically, the presence of DPOAEs indicates normal function of outer hair cells in the inner ear. Vestibular sensory evoked potentials (VsEPs) are measured to assess vestibular function. VsEPs are generated by the vestibular nervous system in response to linear movements of the head and provide information about function of the otolith organs (utricle and saccule). MAT Core staff worked on multiple projects aimed at upgrading or adding test procedures to our repertoire. We collected pilot data on a new system for measuring electrocochleography (ECochG) in mice. We are investigating and piloting several new microphone options for measuring DPOAEs in mice. We began work on a custom system for measuring the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in mice in collaboration with Dr. Soroush Sadeghi from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and with Thomas Jones and John Kakareka from the IDEAS group (Instrumentation Development and Engineering Application Solutions, NIBIB, NIH). Dr. Fitzgerald trained one NIDCD investigator from the Chien lab in auditory function testing and provided orientation to the Core for five members of the Hertzano lab and one member of the Cunningham lab. Four investigators (Chien, Hertzano, and Wu labs) trained in vestibular evoked testing with Dr. Wafa. The MAT Core supported independent auditory and vestibular testing by 22 NIDCD investigators from six NIDCD labs. Dr. Fitzgerald trained four NIDCD investigators in DPOAE and/or ABR data analyses and interpretation. In July 2025, the MAT Core participated in the annual Earssentials workshop, a week-long course designed to expose new trainees and interested scientists to auditory research at the NIDCD through lectures and laboratory exercises. Trainees participated in a laboratory training exercise on auditory testing on mice given by Dr. Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Wilson Bernhard, and Dr. Braulio Peguero. Core staff collaborated on and/or supported projects conducted in nine NIDCD labs: Section on Sensory Physiology and Biophysics (PI: Angela Ballesteros, Ph.D.) MAT Core staff collaborated with and collected data for Dr. Emdad Rahman, Runjia Cui, Janelle Rinehart, and Dr. Ballesteros to examine auditory and vestibular function two mutant mouse strains. Inner Ear Gene Therapy Program (PI: Wade Chien, M.D.) The Core supported auditory testing by Kevin Isgrig, Jianliang Zhu, and Zarek Fasoranti for multiple projects investigating the use of gene therapy to remediate hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction. Section on Sensory Cell Biology (PI: Lisa Cunningham, Ph.D.) The Core supported auditory testing by Drs. Katherine Fernandez, John Lee, Marcello Peppi, and Cathy Sung for projects investigating the mechanisms behind and prevention of hearing loss caused by ototoxic medications. Laboratory of Molecular Genetics (PI: Thomas Friedman, Ph.D.) Core staff collaborated on multiple projects examining auditory function in various mutant mouse strains, including projects with Dr. Inna Belyantseva, Dr. Sayaka Inagaki, Dr. Rabia Faridi, Dr. Yasuko Ishibashi, and Elizabeth Wilson Bernhard. Drs. Fitzgerald and Wafa collaborated with Kerstin Valente and Dr. Isabelle Roux on projects that included auditory and vestibular function testing in several mouse lines segregating alleles of Slc26a4 with missense mutations identified in patients with hearing loss and enlarged vestibular aqueduct. Section on Omics and Translational Science of Hearing (PI: Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D.) The Core supported auditory and vestibular testing by Dr. Reza Amanipour, Dr. Matthew Ingersol, Dr. Nobuyoshi Tsuzuki, Dr. Chris Wen, Dr. Ningjin Wu, Samuel Angevine, Hannah Odom, and Jack White for multiple projects. Auditory Development and Restoration Program (PI: Michael Hoa, M.D.) The Core supported auditory testing for Dr. Samuel Adadey and by Dr. Rafal Olszewski on a mouse model of fluctuating hearing loss. Section on Structural Cell Biology (PI: Bechara Kachar, M.D.) MAT Core staff collaborated with and collected data for Tirone Johnson, Dr. Seham Ebrahim (University of Virginia), Dr. Jung-Bum Shin (University of Virginia) and Dr. Kachar on a project examining auditory function in a mutant mouse. Laboratory of Cochlear Development (PI: Matthew Kelley, Ph.D.) The Core supported auditory testing of mutant mice by Drs. Braulio Peguero and Susumu Sakamoto. Section on Sensory Cell Regeneration and Development (PI: Doris Wu, Ph.D.) MAT Core staff collaborated with Drs. So Young Kim and Hyunjae Lee on projects examining vestibular function in multiple mutant mouse strains. Dr. Fitzgerald and Ms. Krasnopolsky collaborated with Drs. Lok Sum Wong and Wu on a project examining auditory function in a mutant mouse.