the effect of atorvastatin on preventing noise-induced hearing loss: an experimental study

background: noise-induced hearing loss (nihl) is a common, irreversible occupational disease. statins have recently been proposed to prevent nihl. objective: to assess the effect of atorvastatin for the prevention of nihl in rats. methods: in this experimental study, forty 2–3-month-old wistar male rats were divided into 5 groups of 8 animals. 3 groups of rats received atorvastatin at doses of 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg daily for 14 days. the 4th group of rats received normal saline; another group was the control group. after 2 weeks of treatment, the rats were exposed to broad-band noise (125–20 000 hz) at 110 db-spl intensity for 2 hours. response amplitude of all ears at 5 frequencies was assessed by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (dp-oae) at baseline, 2 hours, and 2 weeks after the exposure. results: response amplitude was significantly decreased at all frequencies immediately after exposure to noise in all studied groups. the amplitude increased after 72 hours to a level higher than temporary threshold shift (tts); this change was only significant in the group received 5 mg/kg atorvastatin. conclusion: low dose atorvastatin (5 mg/kg) used before exposure to noise can probably prevent nihl in rats. this effect was not observed with higher doses of the drug.