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Effects of Acute Exposure to Al2o3-Nps (Α and Γ) and White Noise and Their Combination on Cochlea Structure and Function in Wistar Rats Publisher Pubmed



Shahtaheri SJ1 ; Goodarzi Z2 ; Karami E1 ; Khavanin A2 ; Khansari MG3 ; Kiani M4 ; Rashidypour A5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research Published:2023


Abstract

Hearing loss induced by noise and combinations of factors is a common occupational disease among workers. This study aimed to investigate the impact of acute exposure to white noise and Al2O3 NPs, alone and in combination, on changes in the hearing and structural functions of the cochlea in rats. Thirty-six rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups: Control, acute exposure to white noise, exposure to γ-Al2O3 NPs, exposure to noise plus γ-Al2O3 NPs, exposure to α-Al2O3 NPs, and exposure to the combination of noise plus α-Al2O3 NPs. TTS and PTS were examined using DPOAE, while oxidative index (MDA, GSH-Px), gene expression (NOX3, TGF-ß, CYP1A1), protein expression (ß-Tubulin, Myosin VII), and histopathological changes were examined in the cochlea. The morphology of Al2O3 NPs was examined by TEM. The results of the DPOAE test showed a significant increase in TTS in all groups and an increase in PTS in the groups exposed to noise, γ-Al2O3 NPs, and a combination of noise plus Al2O3 NPs (P < 0.05). In the group exposed to white noise plus Al2O3 NPs, the MDA levels increased, the level of GSH-Px decreased, and the expression percentage of ß-Tubulin and Myosin VII decreased, while the expression of NOX3, TGF-ß, and CYP1A1 (except for the α-Al2O3 NPs group) significantly increased (P < 0.05). Histopathological changes of the cochlea indicated damage to hair and ganglion cells, which was more severe in the combined exposure group. The combined and independent exposure to white noise and Al2O3 NPs damaged hair and ganglion cells for high-frequency perception, affecting the function and structure of the cochlea and leading to TTS and PTS. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.