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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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Cochlear Implant Surgery and Electrically-evoked Auditory Brainstem Response Recordings in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: January 9, 2019
Does intracochlear brain-derived nerve growth factor improve auditory brainstem click thresholds in sensorineural
Eric Meen1, Brian Blakley, Taeed Quddusi
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba. ericmeen@gmail.com
Summary
Intracochlear brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) did not significantly improve auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in guinea pigs with cisplatin-induced hearing loss. The study suggests BDNF is not effective for severe hearing loss correction in this model.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicity and neuroprotection research
- Auditory neuroscience
- Drug development for hearing loss
Background:
- Cisplatin is a common chemotherapy agent known to cause ototoxicity and sensorineural hearing loss.
- Brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin with potential therapeutic applications for neuronal protection and regeneration.
- Investigating novel therapeutic strategies for mitigating cisplatin-induced hearing damage is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intracochlear brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) in reducing auditory brainstem response (ABR) click thresholds.
- To assess BDNF's potential to counteract cisplatin-induced sensorineural hearing loss in a guinea pig model.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 15 normal hearing guinea pigs.
- Cisplatin was administered to induce hearing loss in 11 animals.
- BDNF or saline was injected intracochlear, followed by auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing over two months.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in ABR click thresholds was observed between BDNF-treated and untreated ears.
- While BDNF-treated ears showed better hearing than saline or surgical controls, these differences were not statistically significant.
- Surgical control ears (cochleostomy only) exhibited worse thresholds than cisplatin-treated groups.
Conclusions:
- Intracochlear BDNF administration did not demonstrate significant efficacy in correcting severe hearing loss in this guinea pig model.
- The current protocol and dosage of BDNF are not supported for treating cisplatin-induced hearing loss.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative delivery methods or dosages of BDNF for hearing loss treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Auditory Pathway
Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
01:13The Cochlea
The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.