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.