Semiquantitative Vestibulotoxicity to Subablative and Ablative Treated Gerbil Cristae Using Gentamicin or Streptomycin

Abstract

Semiquantitative histological evaluation was performed on inner ears from Mongolian gerbils to study vestibular damages using ototoxic drugs. Comparisons were made between animals receiving five daily injections of gentamicin/gelfoam slurry, streptomycin/gelfoam slurry, saline/gelfoam slurry and noninjected controls. For gentamicin treated ears, when percent decrease of nuclei in sensory cell layer was compared, the damage to the sensory cells was significantly more severe in the posterior crista than in the superior and lateral crista from two of three gerbils. For streptomycin treated ears, when percent decrease of nuclei in sensory cell layer was compared, the damage to the posterior crista was similar to superior and lateral crista. These results indicate that our models are useful for detecting different vestibulotoxicity among three cristae.