title: Effects of antioxidants on auditory nerve function and survival in deafened guinea pigs.
abstract: Based on in vitro studies, it is hypothesized that neurotrophic factor deprivation following deafferentation elicits an oxidative state change in the deafferented neuron and the formation of free radicals that then signal cell death pathways. This pathway to cell death was tested in vivo by assessing the efficacy of antioxidants (AOs) to prevent degeneration of deafferented CNVIII spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) in deafened guinea pigs. Following destruction of sensory cells, guinea pigs were treated immediately with Trolox (a water soluble vitamin E analogue)+ascorbic acid (vitamin C) administered either locally, directly in the inner ear, or systemically. Electrical auditory brainstem response (EABR) thresholds were recorded to assess nerve function and showed a large increase following deafness. In treated animals EABR thresholds decreased and surviving SGCs were increased significantly compared to untreated animals. These results indicate that a change in oxidative state following deafferentation plays a role in nerve cell death and antioxidant therapy may rescue SGCs from deafferentation-induced degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Hearing and Communication Research, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Otolaryngology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulfendahl
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bredberg
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Altschuler
authors.forename: Josef M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003638:Deafness / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003714:Denervation; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid