A single dose of neurotrophin-3 to the cochlea surrounds spiral ganglion neurons and provides trophic support

Degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea following sensorineural hearing loss is preventable by the infusion of neurotrophins into the scala tympani. This study investigates the trophic effects and distribution of a single bolus infusion of neurotrophin-3 (NT3) into the scala tympani of the cochlea. The left cochleae of 28-day deafened guinea pigs were infused with 0, 100 or 140 ng 125I NT3 via a cochleostomy in the scala tympani of the basal turn. Seven days post-infusion, cochlear sections were processed for measurements of trophic effects on SGNs and autoradiography. A single infusion of NT3 increased the soma size of SGNs in a dose-dependent and significant manner but did not contribute to SGN survival. Following infusion of 140 ng 125I NT3 into the cochlea, 0.31% of the total 125I NT3 signal in the basal turn was detected in Rosenthal's canal, 2.4% was in peripheral processes and 0.35% was in the modiolar auditory nerve. Despite influencing SGN soma size, 125I NT3 was not observed to accumulate in SGN cell bodies. The data suggest that only a small proportion of neurotrophins infused into the scala tympani diffuses to the SGNs and their processes and produces trophic effects on SGN cell bodies.