Experimental vibratory damage of the inner ear

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of whole-body vibration on the inner ear. The investigations were carried out on 40 guinea pigs, subjected to sinusoidal vibration (10 Hz/5 mm/1.4 g rms) for 1 to 6 months in a noiseless apparatus. Cochlear microphonic measurements were done with a phase-sensitive detection technique for the levels 70, 80 and 90 dB and the frequencies of 0.26, 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz from the apex of the cochlea and for 4 and 8 kHz from the region of the round window. Analysis of 1,440 measurements suggested the possibility of damage appearing in the upper turnings of the cochlea. The subsequent morphological analysis was based on the estimation of the state of the hair cells (a three-degree scale of injury) in a Zeiss DSM 950 scanning microscope and of the structure of the fibers of the acoustic nerve in a Zeiss EM 900 transmission microscope. Vibration-induced changes were seen in all the examined inner ears of the experimental groups. Hair-cell damage was more often seen in the region of the apex, spreading gradually in the direction of the base and from the circumference (outer hair cells of the third row) to the modiolus. The most characteristic vibrational changes of the acoustic nerve fibers occurred in 100% of the examined myelin sheaths and were visible as decreases in their electrodensity. The changes in both the assessed elements of the inner ear appeared simultaneously but independently and were directly connected with the duration of the experiment. The results obtained allow an explanation of the mechanism of hearing loss in persons subjected to whole-body vibration. The damages done to the inner ear structures may cause a worsening of hearing there, especially in the low and medium frequencies.