Functional and Structural Changes in the Inner Ear and Cochlear Hair Cell Loss Induced by Hypergravity

Gravitational changes have been shown to cause significant abnormalities in various body systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, vestibular, and musculoskeletal systems. While numerous studies have examined the response of the vestibular system to gravitational stimulation, research on functional changes in the peripheral inner ear remains limited. The inner ear comprises two closely related structures: the vestibule and cochlea. These components share similar structures and neural functions, highlighting the importance of investigating changes in auditory nerve cells in response to gravitational alterations. To address this gap, we studied the functional and structural changes in the inner ear following exposure to hypergravity stimuli. Our findings demonstrate changes in Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) in the cochlea. ABR recordings were used to analyze click thresholds, as well as amplitude and latency of tone bursts. The click thresholds at all frequencies increased in the group exposed to hypergravity in the long-term. Additionally, tone burst results revealed significantly reduced amplitudes at high frequencies and delayed latencies in the hypergravity models. Notably, greater hair cell loss was observed in the middle and basal turns of the cochlea, indicating that mid and high-frequency regions are more vulnerable to hypergravity stimulation. Furthermore, nerve damage on the cochlear surface was evident in subjects exposed to 4G stimulation for 4 weeks. These findings suggest that the inner ear and its neural activity can be functionally and structurally affected by prolonged exposure to hypergravity.