Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage
Published on: February 10, 2023
Melatonin prevents age-related hearing loss in the murin experimental model
Lucieny Silva Martins Serra1, Juliana Gusmão de Araújo1, Gabriela Novanta1
1Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Otorrinolaringologia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Objective:
The present study aimed to perform a morphological and morphometric analysis of cochlear structures of C57BL/6J mice receiving oral melatonin for a 12-month period.
Methods:
32 male C57BL/6J were divided into control and melatonin groups. Control received saline and ethanol solution and melatonin group, 50 μL of 10 mg of melatonin/kg/day orally for a 12-month period. After de experiment the animals were sacrificed into a 40% concentration of CO2 chamber, and the blades were morphological and morphometrically analyzed.
Results:
The melatonin group revealed a higher median density of viable cells (45 ± 10.28 cells/100 μm2, 31-73, vs. 32 ± 7.47 cells/100 μm2, 25-48). The median area of stria vascularis was 55.0 ± 12.27 cells/100 μm2 (38-80) in the control, and 59.0 ± 16.13 cells/100 μm2 (40-134) in the melatonin group. The morphometric analysis of the spiral ligament reveals a higher median of total viable neurons in the melatonin (41 ± 7.47 cells/100 μm2, 27-60) than in the control group (31 ± 5.68 cells/100 μm2, 21-44).
Conclusion:
Although melatonin is a potent antioxidant, it does not completely neutralize the occurrence of presbycusis; however, it may delay the onset of this condition.
