Objective: Systemic administration of dieckol reportedly ameliorates acute hearing loss. In this study, dieckol was delivered to the inner ear by the intratympanic route. The functional and anatomic effects and safety of dieckol were assessed using the rat ototoxicity model.
Materials and methods: Dieckol in a high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid vehicle (dieckol+vehicle group) or vehicle without dieckol (vehicle-only group) were randomly delivered into 12 ears intratympanically. Ototoxic hearing loss was induced by intravenous administration of cisplatin, gentamicin, and furosemide. The hearing threshold and surviving outer hair cells (OHC) were enumerated. Biocompatibility was assessed by serial endoscopy of the tympanic membrane (TM), and the histology of the TM and the base of bulla (BB) mucosa was quantitatively assessed.
Results: The hearing threshold was significantly better (difference of 20 dB SPL) in the dieckol+vehicle group than in the vehicle-only group. The number of surviving OHCs was significantly greater in the dieckol+vehicle group than in the vehicle-only group. There were no signs of inflammation or infection in the ear. The thickness of the TM and the BB mucosa did not differ between the two groups.
Conclusion: Intratympanic local delivery of dieckol may be a safe and effective method to prevent ototoxic hearing loss.
Keywords: Ecklonia cava; antioxidant; dieckol; drug delivery; hearing loss; hyaluronic acid.