[Experimental study on the therapeutic value of microwave on hearing loss due to ethacrynic acid ototoxicity]

Ischemia of the stria vascularis in the cochlea associated with temporal hearing loss was found in guinea pigs with intravenous othacrynic acid injection. Using this animal model, we studied the therapeutic value of low power density microwave on the ischemic stria vascularis. Experimental findings confirmed that microwave irradiation on the ear might prompt a quicker recovery of hearing. Meanwhile, milder pathological changes of the stria vascularis were shown either on light microscopy or on TEM in the microwave treated animals. Hence, it is suggested that microwave irradiation causes an improvement of microcirculation and an alleviation of lesions in the stria vascularis. The study has provided an experimental basis of microwave treatment for the hearing impairment due to microcirculation disorder in the inner ear.