Free Radical Damage and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: in vivo in situ Sensing

摘要

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most pervasive sources of reduced auditory acuity, the biochemistry of which is incompletely understood. We hope to clarify the role of reactive oxygen species frequently associated with NIHL, and in the process demonstrate technology generally applicable to studying small-molecule chemistry in the inner ear. Inner ear structures (cochlea) show evidence of damage by ROS correlated with NIHL. It is unclear whether this damage CAUSES hearing loss or is a CONSEQUENCE of the processes leading to such loss. Our goal has been to develop, validate, and employ unique chemical sensors, implanted in laboratory animal cochlea, to measure ROS in real time. This may lead to development of strategies to optimize pharmaceutical intervention to minimize NIHL.