Diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and therapeutic interventions: A systematic review of insights from preclinical animal models

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this systematic review article is to evaluate the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) utilizing preclinical animal models. The review focused on studies assessing SNHL in diabetic animal models, elucidating the mechanisms of DM-associated SNHL, and exploring the response of diabetic animal models to noise overexposure. We also discussed studies investigating the efficacy of potential therapeutic strategies for amelioration of DM-associated SNHL in the animal models. Methods A protocol of this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number: CRD42023439961). We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. A minimum of three reviewers independently screened, selected, and extracted data. The risk of bias assessment of eligible studies was conducted using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. Results Following the screening of 238 studies, twelve original articles were included in this systematic review. The studies revealed that hyperglycemia significantly affects auditory function, with various pathological mechanisms contributing to DM-induced hearing impairment, including cochlear synaptopathy, microangiopathy, neuropathy, oxidative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities, and apoptosis-mediated cell death. Emerging interventions, such as Asiaticoside, Trigonelline, Chlorogenic acid, and Huotanquyu granules, demonstrated efficacy in providing otoprotection for preserving cochlear hair cells and hearing function. Conclusions Our systematic review delves into the intricate relationship between DM and hearing impairment in animal models. Future research should focus on targeted therapies to enhance cochlear mitochondrial function, alleviate oxidative stress, and regulate apoptosis. The association between SNHL and social isolation as well as cognitive decline underscores the necessity for innovative therapeutic modalities addressing yet undiscovered mechanisms. Translating findings from animal models to human studies will validate these findings, offering a synergistic approach to effectively manage DM-associated co-morbidities such as hearing impairment.