Viral-mediated Ntf3 overexpression disrupts innervation and hearing in nondeafened guinea pig cochleae

摘要

Synaptopathy in the cochlea occurs when the connection between inner hair cells and the auditory nerve is disrupted, leading to impaired hearing and nerve degeneration. Experiments using transgenic mice have shown that overexpression of NT3 by supporting cells repairs synaptopathy caused by overstimulation. To accomplish such therapy in the clinical setting, it would be necessary to activate the neurotrophin receptor on auditory neurons by other means. Here we test the outcome of NT3 overexpression using viral-mediated gene transfer into the perilymph versus the endolymph of the normal guinea pig cochlea.