Hydrogen protects vestibular hair cells from free radicals.
CONCLUSIONS
Hydrogen gas effectively protected against the morphological and functional vestibular hair cell damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS).


OBJECTIVE
ROS are generally produced by oxidative stress. In the inner ear, ROS levels increase as a result of noise trauma and ototoxic drugs and induce damage. It is thus important to control ROS levels in the inner ear. The protective effects of hydrogen gas in cochlear hair cells have been reported previously.


METHODS
This study examined the effects of hydrogen gas on mouse vestibular hair cell damage by ROS using antimycin A.


RESULTS
In the group *exposed to hydrogen gas, vestibular hair cells were morphologically well preserved and their mechano-electrical transduction activities were relatively well maintained when compared with controls. Hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF) fluorescence in vestibular tissue was also reduced by hydrogen gas.
Taura
Akiko
A
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Kikkawa
Yayoi S
YS
Nakagawa
Takayuki
T
Ito
Juichi
J
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*
C520960:2-(6-(4'-hydroxy)phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl)benzoic acid; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C073804:FM1 43; D005452:Fluoresceins; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000968:Antimycin A; D006859:Hydrogen