Therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture in a p75 knockout mouse model of progressive hearing loss.

Neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75) knockout mice (p75 (−/−) mice) provide a good animal model of progressive-onset hearing loss. Cell loss of the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and hair cell degeneration at the basal turn of the cochlea are seen in p75(−/−) mice from 3 months of age. Furthermore, from 3 to 6 months of age, the hearing thresholds of p75(−/−) mice are gradually raised; and after 6 months of age, the mice mostly exhibit hearing loss. Several previous reports have indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation may improve subjective symptoms of tinnitus or hearing loss. 3 However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of EA stimulation for hearing loss remain unclear. Thus, to determine whether EA stimulation is useful for the prevention of hearing loss, we used a p75 (−/−) mouse model of progressive-onset hearing loss. The Ting Gong (SI19; Small Intestine 19) and the Yifeng (TE17; Triple Energiser meridian 17) are