Effect of Rutin on Diabetic Auditory Neuropathy in an Experimental Rat Model

OBJECTIVES Diabetic auditory neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that has a major impact on patients' quality of life. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of rutin in treating diabetic auditory neuropathy in an experimental rat model. METHODS Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: group 1, control; group 2, diabetic rats; and groups 3-5, rats treated with rutin (at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively). We used auditory brain stem response, stereology of the spiral ganglion, and measurements of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) to evaluate the effects of treatment. RESULTS Significant improvements in auditory neuropathy were observed in the rutin-treated groups in comparison with the diabetic group (P<0.05). Auditory threshold, wave latency, wave morphology, the volume and number of neurons in the spiral ganglion, and SOD and MDA activity showed improvements following treatment. CONCLUSION Rutin shows promise as a treatment modality for diabetic auditory neuropathy, but more trials are warranted for its clinical application.