Experimental study on prevention and treatment of congenital autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss in guinea pigs / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To study whether immunosuppressant(IS,cyclophosphamide,CPA) have the function of prevention and treatment of congenitalautoimmune sensorineural hearing loss or not.METHODS The female guinea pigs were immunized by crude conspecific inner ear antigens(CIEAgs),and took orally IS or not at the same time during gestation.Then the pregnant guinea pig's and their offspring's hearing function were measured and inner ear histopathologic changes were observed.Some of offspring borne by the female guinea pigs which immunized with CIEAgs and not treated with IS showed hearing loss and were treated by IS,and their hearing functions were measured and inner ear histopathologic changes were observed with same techniques.RESULTS After immunizing with CIEAgs,some of female guinea pigs which immunized with CIEAgs and not treated with IS showed different degrees of hearing loss(the thresholds of acoustic nerve compound active potential and cochlear microphonic potentials elevated) and immune inflammations in inner ear tissues.All females guinea pigs in experimental group which immunized with CIEAgs and treated with IS at same time,and their offspring have no any hearing loss and inner ear histopathologic changes.After IS therapy,the hearing function improved(mainly at the low-frequency region) in some offspring guinea pigs,which borne by the female guinea pigs which immunized with CIEAgs and not treated with IS.CONCLUSION IS could effectively prevent offspring's congenital sensorineural hearing loss induced by their mother's special antibodies against inner ear tissues antigens.IS showed effective result for treatment of congenitalautoimmune sensorineural hearing loss,but the curative effect was limited.