Morphological Changes of Cochlear Hair Cells in the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat

Jung, Dae Gun; Park, Yong Su; Kim, Sang Hu; Kim, Chun Il

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus has been known as a multisystemic disorder for a long time. An association between diabetes and hearing loss was first postulated in the one case report published by Jordao in 1857. The typical hearing loss from diabetes is a progressive and bilateral sensorineural deficit that predominantly occurs in the high frequency and in the elderly patients.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological changes of cochlear hair cells in the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus induced by Streptozotocin.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty two rats were used for this study and divided into control and diabetic group. Furthermore each group was subdivided into 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks group. All experimental animal were put in the same environmental condition. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was induced by intravenous injection of Streptozotocin (65 mg/kg of body weight). Hair cell loss and their ultrastructural changes were observed with phase contrast light microscope and transmission electron microscope.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that metabolic change of diabetes mellitus may affect the cochlear hair cells.