HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to show whether sensorineural hearing loss in diabetes mellitus is secondary to changes in the organ of Corti and stria vascularis. BACKGROUND: The high rate of sensorineural hearing loss in diabetes mellitus has led to much speculation as to whether there is an association between the two. METHODS: A well-established diabetic animal model was used to examine the inner ear histopathologically. RESULTS: No statistical difference in the inner and outer hair cells or in the stria vascularis was shown between the genetic-diabetic rats and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: If there is hearing loss with diabetes, its pathogenesis does not involve damage to the hair cells or stria vascularis.
HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to show whether sensorineural hearing loss in diabetes mellitus is secondary to changes in the organ of Corti and stria vascularis. BACKGROUND: The high rate of sensorineural hearing loss in diabetes mellitus has led to much speculation as to whether there is an association between the two. METHODS: A well-established diabetic animal model was used to examine the inner ear histopathologically. RESULTS: No statistical difference in the inner and outer hair cells or in the stria vascularis was shown between the genetic-diabeticrats and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: If there is hearing loss with diabetes, its pathogenesis does not involve damage to the hair cells or stria vascularis.