Return from deafness

Abstract

Deafness usually results from progressive degeneration of sensory hair cells in the cochlea, followed by degeneration of the auditory neurons of the spiral ganglion that innervate the hair cells. However, there is often a considerable delay following hair cell loss, during which the auditory neurons remain viable. Within this time window, hearing can be partially restored by electrical stimulation of the auditory fibers using a cochlear implant device. Neurobiologists have previously identified several different neurotrophic factors that can promote the survival of auditory neurons in cell culture. Now, Shinohara et al. demonstrate that auditory function can indeed be restored by infusion of neurotrophic factors into the cochlea of deafened guinea pigs [1].