Conclusion
Our results suggest that SEV exposure during pregnancy may cause detrimental effects on the developing auditory system.
Methods
On gestational day 15, pregnant Kunming mice were exposed for 2 hours to 2.5% SEV plus 100% oxygen (anesthesia group) or 100% oxygen alone (control group).
Results
During auditory brainstem response testing on P30, offspring of the anesthesia group mice exhibited higher hearing thresholds at 8, 16, 24, and 32 kHz; longer peak latency of wave II at all four frequencies; and longer interpeak latencies from waves II to V at 16, 24, and 32 kHz, compared to the control offspring. Caspase-3, iNOS, and COX-2 activation occurred in the fetal cochlea of the anesthesia group. Mitochondrial swelling was observed in the anesthesia group offspring at P1 and P15.