Effects of immunosuppression on the development of cochlear disease in the MRL-Fas( XXXX ) @entity19 .

@entity706 @entity19 @entity631 @entity262 @entity619 @entity389 @entity1309 @entity792 @entity528
OBJECTIVES: The MRL-Fas( @entity1309 ) @entity19 , an animal that spontaneously develops multisystemic @entity792 , has been proposed as model of immune-mediated @entity389 . Previous studies revealed that this @entity19 manifested elevated auditory brainstem response thresholds, @entity528 of strial cells, and antibody deposition within strial capillaries. As the etiology of the observed strial disease may be immune, genetic, or uremic, a study was designed to attempt to delineate between these possible etiologic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled animal study. METHODS: @entity619 , which is known to suppress autoantibody production and @entity631 in these animals, was administered systemically on a daily basis to experimental animals, beginning at 6 weeks of age. Control animals received no treatment. Animals were allowed to age, with control animals predictably manifesting @entity262 at 20 weeks of age, at which point all animals were sacrificed. RESULTS: Animals receiving @entity619 treatment manifested a significant reduction in serum immunoglobulin levels, @entity706 , and a significant improvement in the level of renal function. However, morphologic analysis revealed a persistence of strial disease despite the elimination of strial antibody deposition. CONCLUSION: The results of this experiment support the hypothesis that genetic mechanisms may be responsible for the observed strial disease. Further studies are under way to confirm these findings.
