Methods for preventing and treating loss of balance function due to oxidative stress

#1. Field of Invention

#The present invention relates generally to methods and composition for preventing and treating loss of, or impairments to, the sense of balance. More specifically, the invention provides methods and composition for preserving the sensory hair cells and neurons of the inner ear vestibular apparatus by preventing or reducing the damaging effects of oxidative stress by administering an effective amount of certain therapeutic agents to a subject at risk for or experiencing loss of balance or injury to the inner ear balance organ.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#A more complete appreciation of the invention will be readily obtained by reference to the ‘Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments’ and these drawings.

#FIGS. 1(A-C) depicts the data that demonstrate the protective effect of acetyl-Lcarnitine in preventing inner ear damage due to excessive noise exposure.

#FIGS. 2(A and B) depicts data supporting the protective effect on balance function of trophic factors infused over the round window membrane of the inner ear after toxin induced inner ear damage. This is the first report we are aware of where this combination of trophic factors was able to restore balance function in an injury model using a novel technique of drug delivery to the round window membrane without violating the inner ear space.

#As used herein, the term “prevention”, in the context of the loss of or impairments to the sense of balance, death or injury of vestibular hair cells, death or injury of vestibular neurons, death or injury of vestibular dark cells and the like refers to minimizing, reducing, or completely eliminating the loss or impairment of balance function or damage, death or loss of those cells through the administration of an effective amount of one of the compounds described above in the present invention, ideally before an oxidatively stressful insult, or less ideally, shortly thereafter.

#As used herein, the term “treatment”, refers to the administration of an effective amount of one of the compounds listed above to a subject who is experiencing loss or impairment of balance, or injury to or loss of vestibular hair cells, neurons, supporting cells, or dark cells, in order to minimize, reduce, or completely prevent or restore, the loss of balance function or hair cells, neurons or dark cells of the vestibular portion of the inner ear. Treatment is intended to also include the possibility of inducing, causing or facilitating regeneration of cellular elements of the inner ear including hair cells, supporting cells, dark cells, neurons and subcellular organelles of these cells including, synapses, stereocilia bundles, mitochondria and other cell organelles. Treatment is also intended to mean the partial or complete restoration of balance function irregardless of the cellular mechanisms listed above.

#As used herein, the term “other stressors”, in the context of the loss of or impairments to the sense of balance is intended to include, but is not limited to: loud or excessive noise, trauma, toxins, ototoxic medications and drugs (other than aminoglycoside antibiotics), bacterial or viral infections, metabolic disorders or diseases, genetic disorders or diseases, and aging.