“Of mice and men”: the relevance of Cometin and Erythropoietin origin for its effects on murine spiral ganglion neuron survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro

Neurotrophic factors (NTF) play key roles in the survival of neurons, making them promising candidates for therapy neurodegenerative diseases. In case inner ear, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is characterized over time by a degeneration primary auditory spiral ganglion neurons (SGN). It well known that selected NTF can protect SGN from degeneration, which positively influences outcome cochlear implants, treatment choice patients with profound to severe SNHL. However, studies investigating protective effects on are some cases high variability. We hypothesize factor origin may be one aspect affects neuroprotective potential. The aim this study was investigate potential human and mouse Erythropoietin (EPO) Cometin rat SGN. were isolated neonatal rats (P 2–5) cultured serum-free medium. EPO added concentrations 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL μg/mL, respectively. rate morphology, neurite outgrowth determined compared negative (no additives) positive (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) controls. A effect μg/mL comparable obtained BDNF observed SGN-culture. contrast, ineffective. similar influence 1 length regenerated neurites also detected. No other Cometin-conditions, none EPO-conditions tested had or neuritogenic influenced neuronal morphology indicates it potentially interesting protein supportive ear disorders. finding no parallel-performed experiments underlines importance species molecules being screened therapeutic purpose.