Antioxidant Treatment Reduces Hearing Loss in Chinchillas After Noise Exposure
Author Information
Author(s): Du Xiaoping, Choi Chul-Hee, Chen Kejian, Cheng Weihua, Floyd Robert A., Kopke Richard D.
Primary Institution: Hough Ear Institute, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Hypothesis
Antioxidant treatment can inhibit inflammation and free radical formation in the cochlea after acute acoustic trauma.
Conclusion
Antioxidant treatment may protect sensory cells by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the cochlea, thereby preventing permanent hearing loss.
Supporting Evidence
- Antioxidant treatment significantly reduced hearing threshold shifts in chinchillas exposed to noise.
- Outer hair cell loss was significantly lower in the antioxidant treatment group compared to the noise exposure group.
- Migration of CD45+ cells into the cochlea was significantly reduced with antioxidant treatment.
- Formation of oxidative stress biomarkers was significantly inhibited by the antioxidant treatment.
Takeaway
When chinchillas were exposed to loud noise, giving them antioxidants helped protect their hearing and keep their ear cells healthy.
Methodology
Chinchillas were exposed to loud noise and then treated with a combination of antioxidants; their hearing and cochlear health were assessed through auditory brainstem responses and cell counts.
Limitations
The study was conducted on chinchillas, which may not fully represent human responses to noise and antioxidant treatment.
Participant Demographics
Eighteen female adult chinchilla laniger, aged 3 to 5 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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