The role of the medial geniculate body of the thalamus in the pathophysiology of tinnitus and implications for treatment

Almasabi, Faris; Janssen, Mark; Devos, Jana V. P.; Moerel, Michelle; Schwartze, Michael; Kotz, Sonja A.; Jahanshahi, Ali; Temel, Yasin; Smit, Jasper V.

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147797

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…In a study on a noise trauma-induced model of tinnitus, mice showed a reduced resting-state fMRI signal in the auditory cortex and hippocampus 4 weeks after the noise trauma [ 48 ]. Human fMRI studies have reported either reduction in MGB activity or no difference when accounting for the confounder of hyperacusis [ 12 ]. The sound-evoked BOLD signal was reported to decrease in the auditory cortex, MGB and hippocampus in tinnitus patients with mild hearing loss and without hyperacusis [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The role of the auditory thalamus, particularly the MGB, in tinnitus pathology is also attracting more interest [ 10 ]. Findings in both human and animal studies suggest the auditory thalamus has a prominent role in the altered auditory system in tinnitus [ 11 , 12 ]. Increased spontaneous firing rate in the MGB and decreased functional connectivity between the MGB and auditory cortices are reported in tinnitus [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings in both human and animal studies suggest the auditory thalamus has a prominent role in the altered auditory system in tinnitus [ 11 , 12 ]. Increased spontaneous firing rate in the MGB and decreased functional connectivity between the MGB and auditory cortices are reported in tinnitus [ 12 ]. Moreover, the MGB is indirectly influenced by limbic regions via the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Noise Trauma and Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Geniculate Body on Tissue Activity in the Auditory Pathway

et al. 2022

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Tinnitus is defined as the phantom perception of sound. To date, there is no curative treatment, and contemporary treatments have failed to show beneficial outcomes. Deep brain stimulation has been suggested as a potential therapy for refractory tinnitus. However, the optimal target and stimulation regimens remain to be defined. Herein, we investigated metabolic and neuronal activity changes using cytochrome C oxidase histochemistry and c-Fos immunohistochemistry in a noise trauma-induced rat model of tinnitus. We also assessed changes in neuronal activity following medial geniculate body (MGB) high-frequency stimulation (HFS). Metabolic activity was reduced in the primary auditory cortex, MGB and CA1 region of the hippocampus in noise-exposed rats. Additionally, c-Fos expression was increased in the primary auditory cortex of those animals. Furthermore, MGB-HFS enhanced c-Fos expression in the thalamic reticular nucleus. We concluded that noise trauma alters tissue activity in multiple brain areas including the auditory and limbic regions. MGB-HFS resulted in higher neuronal activity in the thalamic reticular nucleus. Given the prominent role of the auditory thalamus in tinnitus, these data provide more rationales towards targeting the MGB with HFS as a symptom management tool in tinnitus.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Noise Trauma and Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Geniculate Body on Tissue Activity in the Auditory Pathway

et al. 2022

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“…Additionally, noise trauma was shown to significantly reduce the cell density in all subdivisions of the MGB and AC [ 16 ]. Another study in mice also described a reduction in cell density throughout the auditory network, including the DCN, VCN, the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CIC), MGB, and AC, one week after exposure to noise trauma [ 17 ]. A number of human imaging studies report anatomical changes in various brain regions related to tinnitus and hearing loss.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of human imaging studies report anatomical changes in various brain regions related to tinnitus and hearing loss. However, the outcomes are inconclusive [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Substantial effects in the AC [ 18 , 19 ] or subcortical auditory structures such as the inferior colliculus (IC) and MGB have been described [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-Mortem Analysis of Neuropathological Changes in Human Tinnitus

et al. 2022

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Tinnitus is the phantom perception of a sound, often accompanied by increased anxiety and depressive symptoms. Degenerative or inflammatory processes, as well as changes in monoaminergic systems, have been suggested as potential underlying mechanisms. Herein, we conducted the first post-mortem histopathological assessment to reveal detailed structural changes in tinnitus patients’ auditory and non-auditory brain regions. Tissue blocks containing the medial geniculate body (MGB), thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), central part of the inferior colliculus (CIC), and dorsal and obscurus raphe nuclei (DRN and ROb) were obtained from tinnitus patients and matched controls. Cell density and size were assessed in Nissl-stained sections. Astrocytes and microglia were assessed using immunohistochemistry. The DRN was stained using antibodies raised against phenylalanine hydroxylase-8 (PH8) and tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) to visualize serotonergic and dopaminergic cells, respectively. Cell density in the MGB and CIC of tinnitus patients was reduced, accompanied by a reduction in the number of astrocytes in the CIC only. Quantification of cell surface size did not reveal any significant difference in any of the investigated brain regions between groups. The number of PH8-positive cells was reduced in the DRN and ROb of tinnitus patients compared to controls, while the number of TH-positive cells remained unchanged in the DRN. These findings suggest that both neurodegenerative and inflammatory processes in the MGB and CIC underlie the neuropathology of tinnitus. Moreover, the reduced number of serotonergic cell bodies in tinnitus cases points toward a potential role of the raphe serotonergic system in tinnitus.

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Effective treatment of refractory tinnitus by bilateral deep brain stimulation of the medial geniculate body of the thalamus: A case report

Devos,

Smit,

George

et al. 2023

Brain Stimulation

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The role of the medial geniculate body of the thalamus in the pathophysiology of tinnitus and implications for treatment

Cited by 10 publications

References 125 publications

The Effect of Noise Trauma and Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Geniculate Body on Tissue Activity in the Auditory Pathway

The Effect of Noise Trauma and Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Geniculate Body on Tissue Activity in the Auditory Pathway

Post-Mortem Analysis of Neuropathological Changes in Human Tinnitus

Effective treatment of refractory tinnitus by bilateral deep brain stimulation of the medial geniculate body of the thalamus: A case report

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