Brain-derived nerve growth factor in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
A possible medical treatment for sensorineural hearing loss using brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) was explored. The hypothesis is that direct intracochlear application of BDNF will result in improved hearing.


METHODS
Animal research study.


METHODS
Significant hearing loss was created using cisplatin in 11 guinea pigs. One month later, bilateral cochleostomies were performed placing 0.05 microg of BDNF in one cochlea of each animal prior to plugging with connective tissue. The other cochlea served as a control. Auditory brain-stem response (ABR) testing was then carried out for three months at 6,000, 8,000, 12,000, and 24,000 Hz.


RESULTS
ABR thresholds were better in the treated ear for all frequencies. Threshold differences were statistically significantly better two months after treatment (general linear model, repeated measures P = .045).


CONCLUSIONS
Intracochlear application of BDNF may prevent hearing loss.
Meen
Eric
E
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. ericmeen@gmail.com
Blakley
Brian
B
Quddusi
Taeed
T
D000818:Animals; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D016014:Linear Models; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C019277:brain-derived growth factor; D002945:Cisplatin