Toward a Self-Administered Hearing Protection Regimen
Abstract
This project aims to further both our basic understanding of the effects of different oral statins, with and without steroid drugs, on hearing loss and to compare the ability to protect hearing with the ability to protect hair cells and synapses within the cochlea. Concomitant with the laboratory studies, we are undertaking a small, innovative clinical trial to determine if the prevailing treatment (steroids) of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be improved by adding a short course of statins. Despite equipment failure of our original equipment and delays in the supply line due to manufacturing and COVID, we acquired our new sound booth and stand, ABR/OAE setup, noise speaker, laptop and software to run the system, oscilloscope, noise generator, and amplifier. We created a new type of mouse cage in order to be able to expose control and experimental animals simultaneously. We have validated, by dose-response, the noise exposure on noise-induced hearing loss in mice on our new equipment in our old lab and in the new laboratory location. We tested oral lovastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin for protective effects against high decibel noise induced hearing loss. Lovastatin gave the best protection. Lovastatin will be used in the clinical study. Preliminary data indicates that lovastatin does not protect inner hair cell synapses. clinical protocol has been approved by the local IRB and the Army and the study is listed it on ClinicalTrials.gov. After final approvals for slight modifications, we will begin accruing patients.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1196914
Entities
People
- Donna S. Whitlon
Organizations
- Northwestern University