Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
09:56
Promotion of Survival and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells with Fibrin and Growth Factor Cocktails after Severe Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 27, 2014
Effect of topically applied basic fibroblast growth factor on injured cochlear nerve
Tetsuji Sekiya1, Norihito Shimamura, Akinori Yagihashi
1Department of Neurosurgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan. seky@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
Neurosurgery
|March 27, 2003
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can treat trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration, offering hope for hearing loss patients. This study shows bFGF therapy is feasible for preventing hearing loss after nerve injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Trauma to the cerebellopontine angle can cause irreversible hearing loss.
- Previous treatments for such hearing loss have had limited success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in treating trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration.
- To challenge the notion that hearing loss from cerebellopontine angle manipulation is untreatable.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent quantitative compression of the cerebellopontine angle portion of the cochlear nerve.
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was administered topically for two weeks using a sponge and osmotic minipump.
- Cochlear neuronal death was assessed by counting residual spiral ganglion cells.
Main Results:
- Topical application of bFGF to the cerebellopontine angle cisterna reduced cochlear nerve degeneration.
- Immunocytochemistry confirmed that bFGF is internalized via FGF receptor-1 and/or FGF receptor-2.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic administration of bFGF is a viable strategy to mitigate trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration.
- Combining growth factor therapy with advanced technologies like cochlear implants may significantly benefit patients with hearing loss.
