Ebselen‐Mediated Protection From Single and Repeated Noise Exposure in Rat

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Ebselen, a glutathione peroxidase mimic, is a candidate compound for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Single-blinded, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Methods included single and repeated noise exposures on F-344 female rats given oral or injected ebselen or vehicle before and after noise, evoked auditory brainstem responses using click and pure-tone stimuli, light and fluorescence microscopy of cochleae stained with 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin, and statistical power determined by ANOVA. RESULTS: Auditory brainstem response indicated that ebselen provided significant protection from both temporary and permanent threshold shifts following single and repeated noise exposure. On average, three times more outer hair cells were lost in control versus ebselen-treated animals. CONCLUSION: Ebselen reduces noise-induced hearing loss in rats.