The Influence of Vocal Loading Upon the Healing of Experimental Vocal Fold Injury

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Project Summary The development and maintenance of a speaking and singing fundamental frequency, while also achieving vocal clarity throughout life, are important public health concerns. Symptoms of dysphonia are among the most common communication disorders. Currently there is no treatment to restore a native vocal fold lamina propria composition or laryngeal movements after injury. Research is limited because there is no in vivo model for larynx injuries that express a vocal behavior that can serve as a reliable phenotypic marker. In general, an animal model can benefit research if its behavior can serve as marker for the onset or the time-course of a pathology affecting a complex behavior. Specifically, the availability of an animal model that combines experimental and genetic accessibility with important similarities to human voice production could allow stronger inferences. Here we propose (1) to quantify key anatomical features of the vocal organ during postnatal developmental in a new model, and (2) to describe the time-course of wound healing after experimental vocal fold injury in a vocal dose- dependent fashion. Results will be integrated in a computational vocal fold model. Completion of this work will provide the field with a new mouse model for the study of vocal disease mechanisms and therapeutic development. It will also inform the role of vocal occupancy on the healing process of vocal folds.