Antioxidant treatment reduces blast-induced cochlear damage and hearing loss

Potential protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine in acoustic trauma: An experimental study using scanning electron microscopy

“…14 Ewert et al reported that a combination of antioxidants, 2,4-disulfonyl α-phenyl tertiary butyl nitrone (HPN-07) and NAC could enhance temporary threshold shift (TTS) recovery and prevent permanent threshold shift (PTS) by reducing damage to the mechanical and neural components of the auditory system when administered shortly after blast exposure. 27 In the present study, NAC reduced the cochlear damage due to AT. Because NAC has antioxidant capacity, it is possible that AT caused increased free radicals and death of OHCs.…”

“…[1][2][3] These findings suggest that antioxidants have the potential to block molecular cascades that are triggered by auditory trauma, which induces oxidative stress and results in permanent threshold shifts (PTS) and hearing loss. 4 In blast-exposed ears, cochlear pathology includes scar formation replacing dead hair cells, fused and damaged stereocilia, and in some extreme cases, separation of the organ of Corti from the basilar membrane. Most of the hair cell loss was in the outer hair cell (OHC) region and generally in the middle or basal turn.…”

“…Drug treatment suppressed both functional and physical damage to the OHCs. 4 In the present study, we investigated the potential preventative effect of NAC in rats exposed to acoustic trauma (AT). In this experimental study, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluations were performed.…”

Efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine in prevention of noise induced hearing loss: A randomized clinical trial

“…The oral route utilized in clinical studies only has bioavailability for NAC of approximately 9%, significantly diminishing achievable NAC plasma levels (Ewert et al, 2012). However, the greater proportion of NAC is metabolized or deacetylated in the intestine to cysteine which is transported to cells where it is utilized for synthesis of glutathione (GSH) (Olsson et al, 1988).…”

“…The therapeutic effects of NAC are dose dependent and relatively high doses are required (Duan et al, 2004;Lorito et al, 2006Lorito et al, , 2008. Therefore, to increase efficacy and decrease dose requirements, combining NAC with other agents may be a more effective treatment option Coleman et al, 2010;Coleman J. K. et al, 2007, Ewert et al, 2012Floyd et al, 2008;Kopke et al, 2000).…”