Pinna reflex thresholds and audiogenic seizures: Developmental changes after acoustic priming.

Abstract

Exposed 200 16-day-old C57BL/6J mice to 30 sec. of 120-db noise (acoustic priming). Primed Ss and 220 unprimed Ss were tested on subsequent days for either audiogenic seizures or an altered threshold to the Preyer pinnal reflex. Within 24 hr., the Preyer reflex threshold had decreased in primed Ss by 5.4 db., and a further decline of 10.1 db. occurred over the next 4 days. The 2 indices of audiogenic seizures did not show a corresponding change until the 2nd day after priming. It is hypothesized that acoustic priming selectively disrupts inhibitory mechanisms which normally protect the CNS from an overload by intense sounds, and that audiogenic seizures and the Preyer reflex are independently affected by this common event. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)