The effect of sodium salicylate on the level of GABAB receptor subunits in the rat\u27s central auditory system

Tinnitus is a phantom sensation of sound in the absence of acoustic stimulus and can be induced by ototoxic drugs such as sodium salicylate (SS). Tinnitus is likely related to hyperactivity in central auditory structures. In the central nervous system, activity is dependent on excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. It can activate the type-B GABAergic receptor (GABA B receptor), which can control the level of excitation/inhibition through regulating the release of neurotransmitters and lowering the cell membrane potential. I hypothesized that SS affects hearing by changing the level and distribution of the GABA B receptor in central auditory structures. My results from immunohistochemical and western blotting experiments revealed that SS reduced the level of GABA B receptors in all major auditory structures. The reduction was observed in both neuronal cell bodies regions and areas containing axonal and dendritic fibers of neurons