Prevention of progressive hearing loss in a mouse model of diabetes by oral intake of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of hearing impairment in patients with diabetes was significantly higher, and the development of preventive methods is desirable.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) administration on the prevention of early hearing loss in diabetic mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tsumura, Suzuki, Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice were used as a model of diabetes and Tsumura, Suzuki, Non Obesity (TSNO) mice were used as controls. The animals were divided into three groups: the TSNO group and the TSOD (EPA-) group (provided sunflower oil), and the TSOD (EPA+) group (provided EPA). Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured and the cochlea was evaluated histologically.

RESULTS

The TSOD (EPA+) group showed a lower tendency to increase thresholds than the TSOD (EPA-) group. The TSOD (EPA+) group had a significantly lower ABR threshold than the TSOD (EPA-) group from 11 to 14 months of age at 4 kHz. Narrowing of the capillary lumens in the stria vascularis and thickening of the vessel wall in the modiolus were observed in the TSOD (EPA-) group.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

It was suggested that the suppression of cochlear vascular atherosclerosis by EPA administration in TSOD mice suppressed early age-related hearing loss.