Effect of topically applied basic fibroblast growth factor on injured cochlear nerve.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Trauma-induced hearing loss after cerebellopontine angle manipulation has been regarded as having a hopeless natural course once it occurs. To challenge such a pessimistic view, we investigated whether pharmacological interventions with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) could ameliorate trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration.

METHODS:

The cerebellopontine angle portion of the cochlear nerve of rats was quantitatively compressed, and bFGF was topically administered for 2 weeks with a bFGF-soaked absorbable sponge and an osmotic minipump. The animals were killed 2 weeks after the compression procedure. The effect of bFGF in ameliorating cochlear neuronal death was evaluated from the residual number of spiral ganglion cells.

RESULTS:

Cerebellopontine angle cisternal application of bFGF ameliorated cochlear nerve degeneration after the compression. Immunocytochemical studies of FGF receptors indicated that topically administered bFGF was internalized by a receptor-mediated mechanism through FGF receptor-1 and/or FGF receptor-2.

CONCLUSION:

This report demonstrated that therapeutic application of bFGF was feasible to ameliorate trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration. Recent technological advances for deafened ears, such as cochlear implants and auditory brainstem implants, in combination with neurotrophic and/or growth factor therapeutic intervention, would be of great potential benefit for patients with hearing loss.

• Authors: Tetsuji Sekiya, Norihito Shimamura, Akinori Yagihashi, Shigeharu Suzuki
• Journal: Neurosurgery (Neurosurgery) Vol. 52 Issue 4 Pg. 900-7; discussion 907 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0148-396X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12657187 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drug Implants
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Count
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Cochlear Nerve (injuries, pathology)
• Drug Implants
• Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (pharmacology)
• Infusion Pumps, Implantable
• Male
• Nerve Crush
• Nerve Degeneration (pathology)
• Nerve Regeneration (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spiral Ganglion (drug effects, pathology)