title: Effects of simvastatin on plasma lipoproteins and hearing loss in apolipoprotein E gene-deficient mice.
abstract: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene knockout (KO) mice develop hearing loss, as well as hair cell damage in the inner ear. Furthermore, the hearing loss and hair cell damage may be caused and exacerbated by hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. We are therefore seeking an effective treatment to protect the inner ear in ApoE-KO mice. ApoE-KO mice fed with an atherosclerotic diet were treated with simvastatin or with Strauss Heartdrops. The auditory brainstem responses were recorded, and plasma lipid levels and inner ear histology were examined. ApoE-KO and wild-type C57BL/6J mice fed with a normal chow diet served as controls. Compared to ApoE-KO mice fed only the atherosclerotic diet, ApoE-KO mice treated with simvastatin had no significant hearing loss and less severe atherosclerosis and hair cell damage in the inner ear. However, ApoE-KO mice treated with Strauss Heartdrops developed significant hearing loss and severe atherosclerosis and hair cell damage in the inner ear. These results demonstrate that statins may prevent hearing loss and inner ear damage in ApoE-KO mice by reducing the atherosclerotic lesions and levels of glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. Statins could be used to treat hearing loss associated with hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Molecular Sciences and Otolaryngology (Neuroscience Institute), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tenn., USA.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Mohammand Habiby
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kermany
authors.forename: Chunxiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Taijune
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D019821:Simvastatin