Time course of neuronal and synaptic plasticity in dorsal cochlear nucleus of guinea pig following chronic kanamycin-induced deafness

We investigated the time course of the plasticity in fusiform cell (FC) and at auditory nerve (AN) synapse on FC (AN/FC synapse) following chronic kanamycin-induced deafness. Guinea pigs were treated with kanamycin sulfate by subcutaneous injection at dose of 500 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Ultrastructural changes in FC and AN/FC synapse were observed, and local insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) mRNA was quantified using quantitative real time PCR at 1, 7, 14, 28, 70 and 140 days after kanamycin treatment. The average threshold was 46.46 ± 3.45, 80.63 ± 5.95 and 103.95 ± 6.59 dB SPL respectively at 1, 7 and 14 days, and the threshold was statistically unchanged at 28, 70 and 140 days in comparison with the 14 day group. Mitochondrial swelling in FC and at AN/FC synapse was progressive at 7, 14 and 28 days. Moreover, the thickness of the postsynaptic densities increased at 1, 7 and 14 days. Finally, there was a persistent upregulation in local IGF-1 mRNA at 7, 14, 28 and 70 days. These changes in the ultrastructure of AN/FC synapse and FC, and upregulation of local IGF-1mRNA were no longer present at 140 days. Our results indicate that the effects of kanamycin on the ultrastructure of FC and AN/FC synapse are progressive. However, FC and AN/FC synapse are capable of reviving and remodeling after kanamycin-induced lesion and incomplete deafferentation. Additionally, local IGF-1 might play a role in the lesion- and deafness-induced plasticity in FC and at AN/FC synapse following chronic kanamycin-induced deafness.