Aim: The objective of the present study was to determine the occurrence of self-protection of hair cells against the ototoxicity of amikacin in guinea pigs. Study design: experimental. Material and method: The outer hair cells of the organ of Corti of 31 animals were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The animals were divided into four groups: A, control; B, amikacin, 20 mg/kg/day for 30 days; C, amikacin, 400 mg/kg/day for 12 days; group D, amikacin, 20 mg/kg/day for 30 days followed by 400 mg/kg/day for 12 days. Results: In groups A and B, the cells were normal in all cochleae, in group C there were extensive lesions of the two more basal turns, in group D there was a significant reduction of lesions in the two more basal turns compared to group C, which had received the ototoxic dose of amikacin alone. Conclusion: We conclude that the non-ototoxic dose of amikacin administered before the ototoxic dose of the same antibiotic had a statistically significant protective effect on the two more basal turns of the guinea pig cochlea.
ototoxicity; aminoglycoside antibiotics; amikacin; self-protection
