Changes in urinary proteome of rats before and after noise exposure

Abstract

This study established an acute noise exposure model in which 10 rats were exposed to a 119 dB noise environment for 9 hours daily over a period of 7 consecutive days. Proteomic analysis was performed on urine samples collected from the rats. A comparison of protein expression profiles before and after noise exposure identified 219 differentially expressed proteins, 30 of which are known to be associated with hearing loss. Notably, Gelsolin plays a critical role in regulating the growth and stability of the mechanosensory hair bundles in mammalian cochlear outer hair cells. Deficiency of Lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 1 has been reported to cause vacuolization and structural alterations in lysosomal membrane proteins in cochlear marginal cells, leading to hearing loss in mice. Similarly, SLIT and NTRK-like family member 6 deficiency is linked to delayed synaptogenesis and auditory dysfunction in mice. These findings indicate that high-decibel noise exposure induces significant changes in urinary protein expression, many of which are associated with auditory damage as previously reported.