<正> We report a new animal model of cochlear changes induced by irondeficiency.The experimental studies were conducted in 141 rats fed with basiciron-deficient diet for 7 to 100 days

and 130 normal or chronically anemic ratswere used as controls.Electrophysiological findings showed that the incidence ofover 15 dB auditory threshold elevation was 31.85% in the iron-deficient rats ascompared with zero percent in controls.The main cochlear histopathologicalchanges induced by iron deficiency were strial atrophy and reduction of spiralganglion cells.We conclude that the observed anomalies should be attributed tocochlear tissue iron deficiency.