Method of preventing blast-induced loss of cochlear and vestibular hair cells and auditory spiral ganglion neurons
A method of preventing blast-induced loss of cochlear and vestibular hair cells and auditory spiral ganglion neurons including orally administering a composition comprising HK-2 to a subject in need thereof. The subject may be a subject at increased risk of exposure to an acoustic blast wave, or a subject that has already been exposed to an acoustic blast wave.
1 . A method of preventing blast-induced hearing loss, comprising orally administering a composition comprising HK-2 to a subject in need thereof; wherein the subject's risk of developing blast-induced hearing loss results from the subject being exposed to at least one blast of about 186 dB.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is at an increased risk of exposure to an acoustic blast wave.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of cochlear hair cells.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of vestibular hair cells.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of auditory spiral ganglion neurons.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the HK-2 is administered to the subject daily.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the HK-2 is administered to the subject daily for a period of 30 days.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the HK-2 is administered at a dose of about 50 mg per kg per day.
9 . A method of preventing blast-induced hearing loss, comprising orally administering a composition comprising HK-2 to a subject in need thereof; wherein the subject was previously exposed to a blast wave of about 186 dB.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of auditory spiral ganglion neurons.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of cochlear hair cells.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising a reduction in the loss of vestibular hair cells.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the HK-2 is administered to the subject daily.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the HK-2 is administered to the subject daily for a period of 30 days.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the HK-2 is administered at a dose of about 50 mg per kg per day.