Effect of sleep deprivation on hearing levels in rats

Abstract

Objectives: To our knowledge, the influence of sleep deprivation on hearing levels has yet to be assessed in animals. Therefore, we evaluated whether auditory function was affected by sleep deprivation in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (aged 9 weeks, weighing 300-400 g) were used for the study and were randomly assigned to a control (n = 15) or sleep deprivation group (n = 12). Hearing levels were evaluated at baseline and 9 days after sleep deprivation using auditory evoked brainstem responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements. Blood was collected for the measurement of interleukin-113 and corticosterone levels. Results: The ABR thresholds (at 8, 16, and 32 kHz) at 9 days were significantly elevated in the sleep deprivation group compared to the control group (p < 0.05, respectively). The sleep deprivation group showed a defect in the function of outer hair cells, as evidenced by decreased levels of distortion product otoacoustic emission. IL-113 was significantly increased in the sleep deprivation group. Sleep-deprived rats exhibited rupture of Reissner's membrane and morphological damage to stereocilia. Conclusion: These results suggest that sleep deprivation induces damage to the cochlea and results in hearing loss in Wistar rats.