The use of neurotrophin therapy in the inner ear to augment cochlear implantation outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Severe to profound deafness is most often secondary to a loss of or injury to cochlear mechanosensory cells, and there is often an associated loss of the peripheral auditory neural structures, specifically the spiral ganglion neurons and peripheral auditory fibers. Cochlear implantation is currently our best hearing rehabilitation strategy for severe to profound deafness. These implants work by directly electrically stimulating the remnant auditory neural structures within the deafened cochlea. When administered to the deafened cochlea in animal models, neurotrophins, specifically brain derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, have been shown to dramatically improve spiral ganglion neuron survival and stimulate peripheral auditory fiber regrowth. In animal models, neurotrophins admi

SUBMITTER: Budenz CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4081524 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature