title: A new method for drug application to the inner ear.
abstract: Inner ear sensory cells are very susceptible to injuries and recovery after damage is very difficult. Recently several drugs including neurotrophic factors have been reported to protect against inner ear injury. The purpose of this experimental study is to find new methods for applying drugs to the inner ear that effectively protect against inner ear damage. Biodegradable hydrogel was used as a carrier for application of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the inner ear of guinea pigs through the round window membrane. After application of BDNF the number of surviving spiral ganglion neurons increased following injury of inner ear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons by ototoxic treatment. This result indicates that BDNF provides effective protection against inner ear damage and that biodegradable hydrogel is useful for application of drugs to the inner ear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. ito@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Tae-Soo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Fukuichiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012405:Round Window, Ear; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate