The effect of acupuncture at Jǐngjiājǐ (颈夹脊) on the repair and regeneration of cochlear hair cells of rats with sensorineural deafness

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupuncture at Jǐngjiājǐ (颈夹脊) on the repair and regeneration of cochlear hair cells of guinea pigs with sensorineural deafness. MethodsSixty healthy guinea pigs were selected, 20 guinea pigs were randomly assigned to the normal control group (group A), and other guinea pigs were randomly divided into model control group (group B) and acupuncture treatment group (group C) after injection with gentamicin sulfate in order to induce deafness. No intervention was given to the guinea pigs in group A and group B, and acupuncture at Jǐngjiājǐ was given to the guinea pigs in group C for 30 days. ABR threshold, DPOAE amplitudes and hair cells counting of guinea pigs in each group were recorded after intervention for 30 days. ResultsAfter intervention for 30 days, ABR threshold in group C was significantly lower than that in group B (38.46 ± 7.36 vs 82.94 ± 6.47, P<0.01), and the DPOAE amplitudes in group C were obviously higher than that in group B (28.06 ± 5.64 vs 25.23 ± 5.38, P<0.01). The number of cochlear hair cells in group C increased significantly, over 50% of the hair cells survived, accounting for 66.67% of the observation cases. The number of cochlear hair cells in the 3rd and 4th gyri was close to the normal level, and plenty of proliferous sustentacular cells can be seen. Compared with group B, the number of cochlear outer hair cells in each gyrus in group C significantly increased (36.76 ± 1.97 vs 28.59 ± 2.24, P<0.01), indicating that acupuncture at Jǐngjiājǐ can promote the repair and regeneration of cochlear hair cells. ConclusionAcupuncture at Jǐngjiājǐ can promote the repair and regeneration of cochlear hair cells, thus improving the hearing of guinea pigs with deafness.