Aberrant frequency tuning and early stereociliary derangement in genetic inner ear disease.

We have developed an auditory brainstem response (ABR) based method for frequency selective forward masking tuning curve technique. Normative data from CBA/CBA mice are compared with tuning curves (TCs) from heterozygote dancer mice which in most cases initially had a normal ABR threshold. The sharpest tuning in normal mice was obtained at 10 kHz (Q10 = 7.6) and 12 kHz (Q10 = 10.9). With increasing age the mutants showed a broadening of the TC tip before ABR threshold impairment occurred. Morphological analysis of the cochleae from dancer mutants revealed an early disarray of hair cell stereocilia which became increasingly more severely affected with advancing age. We conclude that the broadening of the TC tip is an early finding in the genetically induced cochlear susceptibility which can be correlated to stereociliary dysfunction.