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.
Keywords: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); diabetes; hearing loss.