Sunday, February 24, 2013

first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug

I have exciting news :

Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have demonstrated for the first time that hair cells can be regenerated in an adult mammalian ear by using a drug to stimulate resident cells to become new hair cells, resulting in partial recovery of hearing in mouse ears damaged by noise trauma. This finding, reported in the Jan. 10 issue of Neuron, holds great potential for future therapeutic application that may someday reverse deafness in humans.

In the experiment, the researchers applied a drug to the cochlea of deaf mice. The drug had been selected for its ability to generate hair cells when added to stem cells isolated from the ear. It acted by inhibiting an enzyme called gamma-secretase that activates a number of cellular pathways. The drug applied to the cochlea inhibited a signal generated by a protein called Notch on the surface of cells that surround hair cells. These supporting cells turned into new hair cells upon treatment with the drug. Replacing hair cells improved hearing in the mice, and the improved hearing could be traced to the areas in which supporting cells had become new hair cells. “The missing hair cells had been replaced by new hair cells after the drug treatment,” Edge said, “and analysis of their location allowed us to correlate the improvement in hearing to the areas where the hair cells were replaced.”
This is the first demonstration of hair cell regeneration in an adult mammal. “We’re excited about these results because they are a step forward in the biology of regeneration and prove that mammalian hair cells have the capacity to regenerate,” Edge said. “With more research, we think that regeneration of hair cells opens the door to potential therapeutic applications in deafness.” :

See :
http://hms.harvard.edu/news/hearing-restored-after-noise-damage-1-9-13

2 comments:

  1. Thousands of men and women of almost every age have completely reversed any tinnitus issues they had and got rid of the ringing sounds in their ears naturally.Tinnitus is a symptom of several possible underlying conditions. It is commonly experienced as a ringing in the ear, but it can also sound like roaring, clicking, swishing, or buzzing. It can be difficult to cure, but can be you should try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J5m2rCZgPI . This book is quite extensive (250 pages of rock solid content) which focuses on 100% natural method for getting rid of the sounds in your ears quickly. That means there aren't recommendations for harsh prescription drugs, white noise, or surgeries with nasty side effects.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My struggle with Tinnitus and the many related aches and pains that surround the condition dates back many years. In fact, I have struggled with Tinnitus for most of my adult life, and even back into my teen years as well.But i cured my tinnitus few months back by help of this guide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DaZ6YoSho .This is an E-book download and the treatments included in the book are suitable for all different types of tinnitus.This includes the tinnitus discovery, foods to avoid, the shocking truth about conventional tinnitus treatments, the powerful homeopathic herb that can quickly reverse most kind of tinnitus conditions, a simple questionnaire that determines the exact severity of the tinnitus .

    ReplyDelete