Underwater sound reference division ultrasound
The study outcome has potential implications for human diving safety and may provide an explanation for the mass stranding of cetaceans purportedly associated with sonar activity. The results demonstrate induction of neurological damage by intense underwater sound during immersion, with a further deleterious effect when this was combined with decompression stress. Pathological SSEPs scores in animals immersed during the acoustic transmissions, but without changes in ambient pressure, were comparable to those observed in animals exposed to the dive profile. Significantly higher pathological SSEPs scores were noted for both underwater sound protocols. A significantly higher rate of decompression sickness was found among animals exposed to the 204-dB/8-kHz sound field. Recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) was employed under general anesthesia as an electrophysiological measure of neurologic insult. DCS severity was assessed using the rotating wheel method. Rats were subjected to immersion and simulated dives with and without simultaneous acoustic transmissions at pressure levels and frequencies of 204 dB/8 kHz and 183.3 dB/15 kHz. We examined the hypothesis that exposure to underwater sound may potentiate DCS. Necropsy showed bubble-associated lesions similar to those described in human decompression sickness (DCS). Mass stranding of cetaceans (whales and dolphins), in close association with the activity of naval sonar systems, has been reported on numerous occasions.