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Journal of Experimental Biology 59,405-414 (1973)
Published by Company of Biologists 1973

Evidence For an Auditory Function of the Swimbladder in the Cod

OLAV SAND ¹ and PER S. ENGER ¹

¹ Institute of Zoophysiology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

1. Saccular microphonic potentials in cod (Gadus morhua) were recorded by means of implanted electrodes during sound stimulation with different swimbladder volumes. To obtain acceptable acoustic conditions, the experiments were conducted at 6 m depth in the sea.

2. Swimbladder volume had no effect on the microphonic potentials at 100 Hz, whereas its effect was marked at higher frequencies. The sound pressure necessary to evoke microphonic potentials just above the electric background noise was about 20 dB higher for the empty bladder, compared to the full bladder at 300 Hz.

3. The microphonic potentials are ultimately linked to excitation of eighth-nerve fibres, and it is concluded that the existence of gas in the cod swimbladder has a positive effect on hearing sensitivity for all frequencies from a lower transient frequency to the upper frequency limit of hearing. Gas in the swimbladder will furthermore extend the audible frequency range.

4. The upper frequency limit for the saccular microphonic potentials is in good agreement with the upper audible frequency limit determined from behavioural audiograms for cod, thus indicating that this frequency cut-off may be due to inadequacy of the peripheral auditory apparatus.