Methylprednisolone ameliorates cochlear nerve degeneration following mechanical injury

We investigated whether methylprednisolone sodium succinate can ameliorate cochlear nerve degeneration following compression injury on the cerebellopontine angle portion of the cochlear nerve, using a quantitative animal experimental model that we have developed recently. In this model, cochlear nerve degeneration after compression could be quantitatively evaluated, while cochlear ischemia induced by the compression carefully maintained below the critical limit that causes irreversible damage to the cochlea. Eleven rats were treated with methylprednisolone during the pre- and post-compression period. Two weeks after compression, the numbers of SGC were compared between the rats that received the compression without and with methylprednisolone treatment. Methylprednisolone treatment improved the survival of SGC following cochlear nerve injury statistically highly significantly in the basal turn where the traumatic stress had been less than in the other cochlear turns in our experimental setting. Although it was not statistically significant, greater survival was also observed in the other cochlear turns. The results of this experimental study indicated that at least a portion of injured cochlear nerve had been potentially treatable, and that methylprednisolone might prevent such cochlear neurons from entering into the vicious process of irreversible damaging process.