Abstract
Acupuncture has long been used to relieve some inner ear diseases such as deafness and tinnitus. The present study examined the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in animals. A NIHL rat model was established. Electroacupuncture pretreatment at 2 Hz or posttreatment at the right Zhongzhu (TE3) acupoint was applied for 1 hour. Auditory thresholds were measured using auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and histopathology of the cochlea was examined. The results indicated that the baseline auditory threshold of ABR was not significantly different between the control (no noise), EA-only (only EA without noise), noise (noise exposure only), pre-EA (pretreating EA then noise), and post-EA (noise exposure then posttreating with EA) groups. Significant auditory threshold shifts were found in the noise, pre-EA, and post-EA groups in the immediate period after noise exposure, whereas auditory recovery was better in the pre-EA and post-EA groups than that in the noise group at the three days, one week (W1), two weeks (W2), three weeks (W3), and four weeks(W4) after noise stimulation. Histopathological examination revealed greater loss of the density of spiral ganglion neurons in the noise group than in the control group at W1 and W2. Although significant loss of spiral ganglion loss happened in pre-EA and post-EA groups, such loss was less than the loss of the noise group, especially W1. These results indicate that either pretreatment or posttreatment with EA may facilitate auditory recovery after NIHL. The detailed mechanism through which EA alleviates NIHL requires further study.
Highlights
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common cause of acquired hearing loss, and NIHL is defined as sensorineural deafness due to long- or short-term noise exposure [1]
Though may be effective, would produce some long-term side effects in human beings. erefore, acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) has its traditional role in treating some inner ear problems such as tinnitus or hearing loss, but direct evidence is still lacking to prove its role. e purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of EA in NIHL in animals
In the measurement of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) threshold using the click stimulation, the baseline auditory threshold of ABR was similar among the control, EA-only, noise, pre-EA, and post-EA groups
Summary
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common cause of acquired hearing loss, and NIHL is defined as sensorineural deafness due to long- or short-term noise exposure [1]. Several other drugs have been investigated experimentally for the treatment of NIHL, such as glutamate inhibitors (caroverine), anti-ischemic agents (trimetazidine dihydrochloride), and antioxidants (glutathione) [8, 9] These agents are still controversial or limited in real clinical application. Erefore, acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) has its traditional role in treating some inner ear problems such as tinnitus or hearing loss, but direct evidence is still lacking to prove its role. Holt et al report that the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat noise injury model can tolerate exposure to loud sounds, long-term effect study, and can provide the information of the morphology, nervous system function, and neuronal activity for preclinical study [16]. Erefore, the present study investigated the prevention and the treatment effect of EA at TE3 on hearing loss in SD rats with NIHL Holt et al report that the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat noise injury model can tolerate exposure to loud sounds, long-term effect study, and can provide the information of the morphology, nervous system function, and neuronal activity for preclinical study [16]. erefore, the present study investigated the prevention and the treatment effect of EA at TE3 on hearing loss in SD rats with NIHL
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