Hearing threshold shifts by calcium channel modulators

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15724
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Inagaki Akira 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 講師 (70405166)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 蒲谷 嘉代子 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 助教 (50569259) ; 村上 信五 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 教授 (80157750)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: カルシウム / 聴覚 / 薬理学的制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pharmacological modulation is an approach that has not well tested to achieve hearing improvement. To test this approach, we forced on the physiological mechanisms that handle the calcium ion, which is one of the vital components of the inner ear. First, we have performed a comprehensive approach to find novel mechanisms regulating calcium ions in the inner ear that can be targeted for hearing modulation; we found calcium sensing receptor as the candidate as a novel target for hearing modulation. To evaluate the potential as the target for the hearing modulation, we first applied allosteric inhibitor for the calcium sensing receptor. The inhibitor induced moderate hearing loss. Next, we have tried its activator expecting the opposite effect; however, no significant such effect could be identified in the present examination.

Free Research Field

聴覚

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

人体の様々な場面でカルシウムは重要な役割を果たしている。その機能を薬剤によって調整することで。高血圧治療や疼痛治療は大きく進歩してきた。一方、難聴はは社会的に大きな問題であるが、これに対する有効な薬剤は今なお開発されていない。本検討は内耳におけるカルシウム制御の新たな機構を見出し、それに対する薬理学的な制御が可能であることを示した。将来の聴力改善薬の開発に道を開く、意義のある知見が得られた。