Biomaterial Database

The influence of inner ear melanin on susceptibility to TTS in humans. 1990

M L Barrenäs, and F Lindgren

Department of Audiology, Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset, Göteborg, Sweden.

In order to investigate the function of the inner ear melanin, the relationship between skin pigmentation and noise-induced temporary hearing loss (TTS) was studied. Forty-four normal-hearing Caucasian subjects were divided into three groups according to their sun sensitivity. Hearing thresholds before and after exposure were ascertained with a computerized sweep frequency audiometer in the frequency range 2-8 kHz. The noise exposure consisted of a 1/3-octave band-filtered noise with a centre frequency of 2 kHz at 105 dB SPL for 10 min. The mean TTS in the frequency range 2-8 kHz showed statistically significant differences between the three groups, i.e. the most pigmented subjects developed least TTS, and the least pigmented subjects most TTS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007758	Ear, Inner	The essential part of the hearing organ consists of two labyrinthine compartments: the bony labyrinthine and the membranous labyrinth. The bony labyrinth is a complex of three interconnecting cavities or spaces (COCHLEA; VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH; and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS) in the TEMPORAL BONE. Within the bony labyrinth lies the membranous labyrinth which is a complex of sacs and tubules (COCHLEAR DUCT; SACCULE AND UTRICLE; and SEMICIRCULAR DUCTS) forming a continuous space enclosed by EPITHELIUM and connective tissue. These spaces are filled with LABYRINTHINE FLUIDS of various compositions.	Labyrinth,Bony Labyrinth,Ear, Internal,Inner Ear,Membranous Labyrinth,Bony Labyrinths,Ears, Inner,Ears, Internal,Inner Ears,Internal Ear,Internal Ears,Labyrinth, Bony,Labyrinth, Membranous,Labyrinths,Labyrinths, Bony,Labyrinths, Membranous,Membranous Labyrinths
D008297	Male		Males
D008543	Melanins	Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration.	Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D006317	Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced	Hearing loss due to exposure to explosive loud noise or chronic exposure to sound level greater than 85 dB. The hearing loss is often in the frequency range 4000-6000 hertz.	Acoustic Trauma,Hearing Loss, Noise Induced,Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001299	Audiometry	The testing of the acuity of the sense of hearing to determine the thresholds of the lowest intensity levels at which an individual can hear a set of tones. The frequencies between 125 and 8000 Hz are used to test air conduction thresholds and the frequencies between 250 and 4000 Hz are used to test bone conduction thresholds.	Audiometries
D001309	Auditory Threshold	The audibility limit of discriminating sound intensity and pitch.	Auditory Thresholds,Threshold, Auditory,Thresholds, Auditory
D012880	Skin Pigmentation	Coloration of the skin.	Skin Color,Skin Tone,Color, Skin,Colors, Skin,Pigmentation, Skin,Pigmentations, Skin,Skin Colors,Skin Pigmentations,Skin Tones,Tone, Skin,Tones, Skin