The pathophisiolosy and the treatment of chronic inner ear ischemia

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18771
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Okada Masahiro 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (20512130)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 内耳虚血 / 加齢性難聴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We tried to create a model animal for hearing impairment caused by chronic inner ear ischemia in order to elucidate the pathophysiology of age-related hearing loss. We applied the animal model of transient inner ear ischemia we have used. Since the posterior communicating artery is lost in the adult gerbil, it is possible to create a blood flow deterioration in the inner ear artery, which is a peripheral branch of AICA, by causing stenosis in the bilateral vertebral arteries in the neck. In this model, it is suggested that the placement of a device in the vertebral artery may cause chronic ischemia of the inner ear.

Free Research Field

神経耳科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢性難聴はコミュニケーション障害を引き起こし、うつ病や認知症の誘因となるため、超高齢化社会を迎えた今、その予防や治療が喫緊の課題である。これまでの疫学調査では、加齢性難聴と虚血性疾患との関連が報告されているが、モデル動物が存在しないため、その病態や治療法が十分には研究されていない。本モデルの病態を解明すれば、内耳慢性虚血の詳細な病態を把握できるとともに、あらたな予防や治療方法の探索につながると期待される。