Chronic Noise Exposure Activates Apoptosis Signaling Pathway in the Rat Auditory Cortex

Today, hearing disorders are one of the most common problems in an industrial society. High-intensity sounds can induce apoptosis and metabolic changes in the auditory neural pathway and auditory cortex.

In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic noise exposure on Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 genes expression in the auditory cortex of rats.

Chronic exposure to 110 dB white noise was applied in male rats for 6 hours for 5 consecutive days. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured in the serum of rats prior to and following noise exposure. Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 genes expression in the auditory cortex was determined by Real time PCR assay. 

Our results showed that the serum SOD level was significantly decreased in rats exposed to noise. In addition, the gene expression of Caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was markedly increased in the auditory cortex of rats were subjected to chronic noise exposure compared to control rats.

Chronic noise exposure can activate apoptosis signaling pathway in the auditory cortex of rat.