الفهرس 
Characteristics of the stem cells:Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Summary
Hair cells of the inner ear secrete neurotrophic factors that are necessary for establishment and maintenance of the nerve connection. After hair cell destruction, this neurotrophic activity is stopped and the fibers of the auditory nerve start to degenerate from periphery toward the center according to the severity of the hearing loss. However, for treatment with cochlear implantation (CI), the presence of optimum peripheral nerve fibers is mandatory for good CI performance and outcome. ASCs produce neurotrophic factors which improve neuronal survival and neurogenesis. ASC can be isolated from adult tissue and therefore serve as an autologous neurotrophic source.
This work aimed at studying the effect of ASCs transplantation on the SGCs survival and peripheral neurite outgrowth by both histologic and eABR outcome measures.
Methods: This study involved 12 guinea pigs (6 in study group and 6 in control group). ASCs were isolated from adipose tissue of guinea pigs and the animals were bilaterally deafened by a local application of gentamicin. Subsequently, an autologous transplantation of ASC in to the Scala tympani together with CI was done for the 1st group (Study treated ―n=6‖). In the other animals, implantation of the CI without ASCs (Control implanted ―n=6‖). The contralateral ears served as control deafened untreated for each group. Over a period of 8 weeks repeated eABR measurements (threshold, slope, amplitude, dynamic range and latency) were made. Input/output graphs of the amplitude growth functions were plotted and the output measures were calculated. At the end a histological examination was done.