title: Growth factor treatment enhances vestibular hair cell renewal and results in improved vestibular function.
abstract: The vestibules of adult guinea pigs were lesioned with gentamicin and then treated with perilymphatic infusion of either of two growth factor mixtures (i.e., GF I or GF II). GF I contained transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), insulin-like growth factor type one (IGF-1), and retinoic acid (RA), whereas GF II contained those three factors and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Treatment with GF I significantly enhanced vestibular hair cell renewal in ototoxin-damaged utricles and the maturation of stereociliary bundle morphology. The addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to the GF II infusion mixture resulted in the return of type 1 vestibular hair cells in ototoxin-damaged cristae, and improved vestibular function. These results suggest that growth factor therapy may be an effective treatment for balance disorders that are the result of hair cell dysfunction and/or loss.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Defense Spatial Orientation Center and Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92134, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kopke
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hoffer
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Frenz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schultheiss
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Van De Water
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D006133:Growth Substances