PROJECT SUMMARY Metabolic presbyacusis is a major type of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) associated with decreased endocochlear potential and elevated auditory thresholds due to degeneration of the stria vascularis (SV). The SV, located in the lateral wall of the cochlea, is a highly active, bioenergetic, vascularized epithelium that conducts essential functions necessary for driving hair cell transduction. Recent studies have identified strial atrophy and pathological alterations of the strial microvasculature, marked by immune cell activation as important factors contributing to age-related cochlear degeneration. Our recent study suggest that age-related aberrant macrophage activity is an initial contributor to strial dysfunction, cochlear pathology, and hearing loss. Using an established ARHL mouse model, we showed increased macrophage activation and inflammation in the SV beginning at middle age, an age at which there is minimal loss of sensory hair cells and cochlear neurons. Related to these findings, recent evidence signifies mitochondrial dysfunction to be strongly associated with immune cell dysregulation. Specifically, the release of mitochondrial damage associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) via impaired mitochondrial quality control (ex. fission & mitophagy) can initiate an inflammatory response. Our preliminary data using quantitative ultrastructural and immunohistochemical approaches reveal significant age-related reductions in mitochondrial size and metabolic activity within marginal cells of the SV. In addition, significant alterations in mitochondrial quality control, which is aimed at preserving mitochondrial integrity and metabolic activity, was observed beginning at middle age in an ARHL mouse model. Based on these observations, our central hypothesis is that strial degeneration results from impaired mitochondrial quality control in marginal cells of the aged cochlea, contributing to increased oxidative stress, macrophage activation, and inflammation. In Aim 1, we will test the hypothesis that strial dysfunction/degeneration results from exacerbated mitochondrial fission and subsequent impaired mitophagy in marginal cells of the aged cochlea, leading to increased oxidative stress and reduced mitochondrial metabolic activity. A well-characterized ARHL mouse model and a newly developed SV ex vivo system will be employed where the assessment of mitochondrial quality control, mitochondrial ROS levels, and respiratory capacity within strial marginal cells will be elucidated over the course of aging. In Aim 2, we will test the hypothesis that impaired mitochondrial quality control propagates the activation of strial macrophages leading to inflammation via the release of mtDAMPs in marginal cells of the aged cochlea. A cochlea specific genetic mouse model will be used to determine the extent to which deletion of Oma1, master regulator of stress induced mitochondrial fission, impacts strial macrophage activation and inflammation. Ul...