Abstract
Pre‐treatment with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) or the neurotrophin brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on vibration‐induced hearing loss (VHL) was tested in an animal model. NAC was delivered into the cochlea by round window membrane (RWM) injection, RWM permeation, or oral administration, and BDNF and CNTF were delivered with mini‐osmotic pumps. Hearing was evaluated with electrocochleography (ECoG). NAC provided no protective benefit in animals subjected to VHL, irrespective of delivery method. NAC injection through the round window membrane was toxic, causing an ECoG threshold shift of >25 dB. In BDNF + CNTF treated animals, there was statistically significant improved threshold recovery post‐vibration.