Steroid-responsive cochlear dysfunction in the MRL/lpr autoimmune mouse

Corticosteroids historically have been used to treat autoimmune sensorineur al hearing loss, although little is known of how steroids restore normal in ner ear function, Therefore, to identify a potential model for this field o f research, this study examined the effects of prednisolone on auditory bra in stem response thresholds in the MRL/lpr mouse model of autoimmune sensor ineural hearing loss, Mice treated with prednisolone after auditory thresho ld elevations demonstrated significant improvement and stabilization of thr esholds compared with untreated controls, MRL/lpr mice treated with steroid s before the onset of autoimmune disease and cochlear dysfunction demonstra ted decreased serum immune complexes, higher survival rates, and lower audi tory thresholds compared with untreated controls. These positive results su ggest the autoimmune mouse may be useful for studies of steroid-responsive mechanisms of the cochlea in autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, as well as any hearing disorder in which steroid therapy is currently used.