Prednisolone prevents transient ischemia-induced cochlear damage in gerbils

Abstract

Conclusions. Prednisolone protects against inner ear damage, even when administered after ischemic injury in Mongolian gerbils. Objective. The effect of prednisolone on ischemia-induced cochlear damage was investigated in Mongolian gerbils. Materials and methods. The bilateral vertebral arteries were occluded for 15 min to transiently induce cochlear ischemia, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of prednisolone (1 mg/kg) or physiological saline (control). Sequential changes in hearing were evaluated by recording the auditory brainstem response (ABR) before and at 1, 4, and 7 days after treatment. In our histologic analysis, the numbers of dead and intact inner hair cells (IHCs) were counted in specimens stained with rhodamine-phalloidin. Results. In control animals, transient ischemia increased the ABR threshold (24.2±8.6 dB) within 7 days of treatment, whereas prednisolone-treated animals exhibited a threshold of 14.2±9.2 dB. Furthermore, the percent IHC loss at the basal turn of the cochlea was 26.5±11.4% in control animals compared with 5.3±3.0% in the prednisolone-treated group.

• Glucocorticoid
• transient ischemia
• inner hair cells
• idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss