Noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy (NICS) caused by moderate noise exposure can damage spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) without causing hair cell loss or permanent threshold shifts (PTS). Earlier experiments with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) have shown to promote SGN survival, neurite outgrowth and cochlear synapse regeneration in vitro. Here we show that CNTF shows significant recovery from cochlear synaptopathy in vivo. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and synapse quantification was done to show that mice perfused with CNTF after noise exposure exhibit significant recovery from NICS in vivo. CBA/Caj male mice were exposed to 100dB SPL 8-16 kHz octave band noise for 2 hours after conducting ABR pre-noise. Then, the left cochleae were perfused with CNTF at 100 ng/ml, dissolved in 0.1% mouse serum albumin in artificial perilymph 3 hours post-noise and was delivered continuously until the mouse was euthanized. Fourteen days post-noise, ABR wave I amplitude was measured, and synapse quantification was done at the 8, 16, and 32 kHz regions. The results suggest that ears perfused with CNTF help recover from NICS.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes regeneration of cochlear synapse after noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in mice

2019 Spring National Meeting

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