We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Characterization of the neural circuitry of the auditory thalamic reticular nucleus and its potential role in salicylate-induced tinnitus.
- Authors
Qian Dai; Tong Qu; Guoming Shen; Haitao Wang
- Abstract
Introduction: Subjective tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external acoustic source, is often subsequent to noise-induced hearing loss or ototoxic medications. The condition is believed to result from neuroplastic alterations in the auditory centers, characterized by heightened spontaneous neural activities and increased synchrony due to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition. However, the role of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), a structure composed exclusively of GABAergic neurons involved in thalamocortical oscillations, in the pathogenesis of tinnitus remains largely unexplored. Methods: We induced tinnitus in mice using sodium salicylate and assessed tinnitus-like behaviors using the Gap Pre-Pulse Inhibition of the Acoustic Startle (GPIAS) paradigm. We utilized combined viral tracing techniques to identify the neural circuitry involved and employed immunofluorescence and confocal imaging to determine cell types and activated neurons. Results: Salicylate-treated mice exhibited tinnitus-like behaviors. Our tracing clearly delineated the inputs and outputs of the auditory-specific TRN. We discovered that chemogenetic activation of the auditory TRN significantly reduced the salicylate-evoked rise in c-Fos expression in the auditory cortex. Discussion: This finding posits the TRN as a potential modulatory target for tinnitus treatment. Furthermore, the mapped sensory inputs to the auditory TRN suggest possibilities for employing optogenetic or sensory stimulations to manipulate thalamocortical activities. The precise mapping of the auditory TRNmediated neural pathways offers a promising avenue for designing targeted interventions to alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
- Subjects
TINNITUS; NEURAL circuitry; COCHLEAR nucleus; THALAMIC nuclei; NOISE-induced deafness; NEURAL pathways; SODIUM salicylate; AUDITORY cortex
- Publication
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2024, p1
- ISSN
1662-4548
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3389/fnins.2024.1368816