Sound shock response in larval zebrafish: A convenient and high-throughput assessment of auditory function

摘要

Given that hearing ability can be challenged in diverse ways, it is necessary to develop an easily conducted, high throughput method for assessing potential auditory risks. Measuring the acoustic startle response (ASR) has become a critical behavioral method in hearing research using zebrafish (Danio rerio). In this study, changes in the activity of zebrafish larvae (10 days post fertilization (dpf)) due to exposure to a sudden easily-generated broad-band noise were automatically and objectively recorded and analyzed without building sophisticated equipments. A significant increase in activity was induced by the noise stimulation and the alterations were impaired by gentamicin. In addition, a clear dose-response trend was observed between gentamicin exposure and the impaired activity, and a similar phenomenon was observed between gentamicin exposure and damage to hair cells. Our results suggested that alterations in the activity induced by a broad-band noise can potentially be used as an efficient assay for assessing hearing ability.