Increased vulnerability to noise exposure of low spontaneous rate type 1C spiral ganglion neuron synapses with inner hair cells

The inner hair cells (IHCs) in the inner ear form synapses with auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) that send sound signals to the brain. ANFs have been grouped by their level of spontaneous firing rates (SRs) into high-, medium-, and low-SR ANFs. Based on their molecular profiles evaluated by RNAseq experiments, ANFs have been divided into three groups (1A, 1B, and 1C) that likely correspond to high-, medium-, and low-SR ANFs, respectively. In guinea pigs, the synapses between IHCs and low-SR ANFs have been shown to be more vulnerable to noise exposure compared to other ANF subtypes, but not in a study performed in CBA/CaJ mice, questioning if these results can be generalized. Here, an LYPD1 reporter mouse model on a C57Bl/6J background with specifically labeled group 1C, low-SR ANFs was used to examine whether LYPD1 positive ANF synapses are more vulnerable to noise exposure. Six-week-old mice were exposed to an 8-16 kHz octave band noise presented at 100 dB-SPL for 2 h. One week later, cochlear tissue was harvested to quantify ANF synapses and compare the percentage of LYPD1 positive ANF synapses in noise-exposed and unexposed animals. Auditory brainstem response measurements were performed to assess hearing function after noise exposure. The number of all ANF synapses and the percentage of LYPD1-positive ANF synapses were reduced following noise exposure, concurrent with increased ABR thresholds and decreased ABR wave 1 amplitudes. The reduction in the percentage of LYPD1-positive ANF synapses specifically indicates greater vulnerability of LYPD1 positive ANF synapses to noise exposure compared to other ANFs in C57Bl/6J mice.