Facts about Albino Dobermans
Auditory System Effects
of Albinism
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(modified 6/1/04)
Here's just a few examples
of some of the ways in which albinism can affect the auditory system:
Creel,
D., Conlee, J. W., & Parks, T. N. (1983). Auditory brainstem
anomalies in albino cats. I. Evoked potential studies. Brain Res,
260(1), 1-9. The amount of melanin pigmentation in the inner ear is
positively correlated with the general pigmentation of the body and
specifically with the amount of pigment in the eye. The misrouting of
retinofugal projections which accompanies ocular and oculocutaneous
albinism has been thought to be a defect in decussation unique to the
visual system. Evidence suggests that functional abnormalities may also
exist in the auditory systems of albino humans and animals. ....hese
data indicate that anomalies may exist in the brainstem at the level of
the acoustic striae, superior olivary nuclei and/or trapezoid body in
tyrosinase-negative albino cats.
Haythorn, M. M., & Henry, K. R. (1975). Albinism and
auditory function in the laboratory mouse: II. Effects of acoustic
priming and cross-fostering. Behavior Genetics, 5(4), 321-329. Examined
albino (c/c) and nonalbino (+/c and +/+) congenic C57BL/6J mice for the
effects of acoustic prestimulation (priming) on audiogenic seizures. A
total of 130 Ss were used in 2 experiments. While no genotypic-specific
effects were noticed 1 day after priming, major effects were observed
in separate groups of Ss tested 5 days after priming. The c/c Ss were
most susceptible to audiogenic seizures, and no differences were
observed between +/c and +/+ Ss. ....
Henry, K. R., & Haythorn, M. M. (1975). Albinism and auditory
function in the laboratory mouse. I. Effects of single-gene
substitutions on auditory physiology, audiogenic seizures, and
developmental processes. Behav Genet, 5(2), 137-49. The effects of
single-gene albino (c/c) mutations on auditory behavior and physiology
were examined in congenic C57BL/6J mice. At 16 days of age, the c gene
was additively associated with both reduced auditory functioning and
lower body weight: 16-day-old c/c mice had higher auditory evoked
potential (AEP) thresholds than +/c mice, which, in turn, had higher
thresholds than +/+ mice; +/c mice were also intermediate with regard
to body weight. Since these differences had nearly disappeared by 21
days of age, it was concluded that the c genes worked in an additive
fashion to delay development during the period previously (Henry, 1967)
found critical for inducing susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. At
16 days of age, albino mice (c/c) displayed susceptibility to
audiogenic seizures, but nonalbino genotypes (+/c and +/+) were immune
to the convulsive effects of sound. This behavior appeared to be a
recessive trait at this age. But 5 days later, the behavioral phenotype
exhibited incomplete dominance, with the +/c genotype displaying
audiogenic seizures intermediate to those seen in the susceptible c/c
and the nonsusceptible +/+ genotypes. These behaviors were compared to
the thresholds and peak-to-peak amplitudes of the AEP, as seen in the
input-output functions. It is suggested that differential development
of the auditory systems in these genotypes is causally related to
susceptibility to audiogenic seizures.
Moore, D. R., & Kowalchuk, N. E. (1988). An anomaly in the
auditory brain stem projections of hypopigmented ferrets. Hear Res,
35(2-3), 275-8. The number of cochlear nucleus (CN) neurones projecting
to the ipsi- and contralateral inferior colliculus (IC) was studied in
darkly pigmented and hypopigmented ferrets by the retrograde transport
of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase. The contralateral
projection in all divisions of the CN of both albino and 'red eyed'
ferrets was normal. However, the ipsilateral projection from the
anteroventral CN was significantly smaller in albino than in pigmented
ferrets.....The results show that hypopigmented ferrets have at least
one anomaly among the connections of the auditory brain stem.
Strain, G. M. (1991). Congenital deafness in dogs and cats.
Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian,
13(2), 245-250, 252-253. This article reviews the physiology and
anatomy of hearing.....Hereditary deafness is associated with the
presence of the merle (M), piebald (Sp) or extreme piebald (Sw) genes.
It is often reported as a syndrome that include piebaldism or partial
albinism, heterochromia iridis, absence of retinal pigment and cochlear
stria vascularis pigment and various facial defects.....
Tak WJ, Kim MN, Hong CK, Ro BI, Song KY, Seo SJ. (2004). Ocular
albinism with sensorineural deafness. Int J Dermatol. Apr;43(4):290-2.
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