Age, drugs, and noise are major causes of acquired hearing loss. The involvement of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hair cell death has long been discussed, but there is
considerably less information available as to the mechanisms underlying ROS formation.
Most cellular ROS arise in mitochondria and this review will evaluate evidence for
mitochondrial pathology in general and dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in
particular in acquired hearing loss. We will discuss evidence that different pathways can …