Macrophage depletion attenuates degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons in kanamycin-induced unilateral hearing loss model

Pathological conditions in cochlea, such as ototoxicity, acoustic trauma, and age-related cochlear degeneration, induce cell death in the organ of Corti and degeneration of the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Although macrophages play an essential role after cochlear injury, its role in the SGNs is limitedly understood. We analyzed the status of macrophage activation and neuronal damage in the spiral ganglion after kanamycin-induced unilateral hearing loss in mice. The number of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive macrophages increased 3 days after unilateral kanamycin injection. Macrophages showed larger cell bodies, suggesting activation status. Interestingly, the number of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3)-positive-neurons, an indicator of early neuronal damage, also increased at the same timing. In the later stages, the number of macrophages decreased, and the cell bodies became smaller, although the number of neuronal deaths increased. To understand their role in neuronal damage, macrophages were depleted via intraperitoneal injection of clodronate liposome 24 h after kanamycin injection. Macrophage depletion decreased the number of ATF3-positive neurons at day 3 and neuronal death at day 28 in the spiral ganglion following kanamycin injection. Our results suggest that suppression of inflammation by clodronate at early timing can protect spiral ganglion damage following cochlear insult.

Anti-inflammatory Therapy Protects Spiral Ganglion Neurons After Aminoglycoside Antibiotic-Induced Hair Cell Loss

Destruction of cochlear hair cells by aminoglycoside antibiotics leads to gradual death of the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) that relay auditory information to the brain, potentially limiting the efficacy of cochlear implants. Because the reasons for this cochlear neurodegeneration are unknown, there are no neuroprotective strategies for patients. To investigate this problem, we assessed transcriptomic changes in the rat spiral ganglion following aminoglycoside antibiotic (kanamycin)-induced hair cell destruction. We observed selectively increased expression of immune and inflammatory response genes and increased abundance of activated macrophages in spiral ganglia by postnatal day 32 in kanamycin-deafened rats, preceding significant SGN degeneration. Treatment with the anti-inflammatory medications dexamethasone and ibuprofen diminished long-term SGN degeneration. Ibuprofen and dexamethasone also diminished macrophage activation. Efficacy of ibuprofen treatment was augmented by co-administration of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-stabilizing agent P7C3-A20. Our results support a critical role of neuroinflammation in SGN degeneration after aminoglycoside antibiotic-mediated cochlear hair cell loss, as well as a neuroprotective strategy that could improve cochlear implant efficacy.

Telmisartan Attenuates Kanamycin-Induced Ototoxicity in Rats

Telmisartan (TM) has been proposed to relieve inflammatory responses by modulating peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-γ (PPARγ) signaling. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of TM on kanamycin(KM)-induced ototoxicity in rats. Forty-eight, 8-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: (1) control group, (2) TM group, (3) KM group, and (4) TM + KM group. Auditory brainstem response was measured. The histology of the cochlea was examined. The protein expression levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), HO1, and PPARγ were measured by Western blotting. The auditory threshold shifts at 4, 8, 16, and 32 kHz were lower in the TM + KM group than in the KM group (all p < 0.05). The loss of cochlear outer hair cells and spiral ganglial cells was lower in the TM + KM group than in the KM group. The protein expression levels of ACE2, PPARγ, and HO1 were higher in the KM group than in the control group (all p < 0.05). The TM + KM group showed lower expression levels of PPARγ and HO1 than the KM group.TM protected the cochlea from KM-induced injuries in rats. TM preserved hearing levels and attenuated the increase in PPARγ and HO1 expression levels in KM-exposed rat cochleae.

Effects of Androgen Receptor Inhibition on Kanamycin-Induced Hearing Loss in Rats

Megalin has been proposed as an endocytic receptor for aminoglycosides as well as estrogen and androgen. We aimed to investigate the otoprotective effects of antiandrogens (flutamide, FM) on kanamycin (KM)-induced hearing loss in rats. Rats were divided into four groups. The KM group was administered KM (20 mg/kg/day) for 5 days, while the FM group received FM (15 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. In the KM + FM group, KM and FM (15 mg/kg/day) were simultaneously injected for 5 days and then FM was injected for 5 days. Auditory brainstem responses were measured. Western blotting and/or quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were performed for megalin, cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a1), Cyp1b1, metallothionein 1A (MT1A), MT2A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 3. The FM + KM group showed attenuated auditory thresholds when compared with the KM group at 4, 8, 16, and 32 kHz (all p < 0.05). The KM + FM group showed lower megalin and Cyp1b1 levels than the KM group (all p < 0.05). The KM + FM group revealed lower MT1A, TNFα, and caspase 3 protein levels, compared with those in the KM group (all p < 0.05). Androgen receptor inhibition protects against cochlear injuries in KM-induced hearing loss rats by attenuating megalin expression, revealing anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

Generation of new hair cells by DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) inhibitor 5-azacytidine in a chemically-deafened mouse model

Regeneration of mature mammalian inner ear hair cells remains to be a challenge. This study aims to evaluate the ability of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-aza) to generate outer hair cells (OHCs) in a chemically-deafened adult mouse model. 5-aza was administrated into the mouse inner ear via the round window. Immunofluorescence was used to examine the expression of hair cell specific proteins following 5-aza treatment. The results showed that in the chemically-deafened mouse cochlea, new OHCs were found post 5-aza treatment, whereas OHCs were completely lost in saline-treated mice. New hair cells expressed multiple hair cell markers included Myosin VIIa, Pou4f3 and Myosin VI. Newly-generated hair cells presented in three cochlear turns and were able to survive for at least six weeks. The effects of new hair cells generation by 5-aza were concentration dependent. Quantitative PCR study indicates that 5-aza may function through Dnmt1 inhibition. The results of this report suggest that the Dnmt inhibitor 5-aza may promote hair cell regeneration in a chemically-deafened mouse model.

Identification and efficacy of glycine, serine and threonine metabolism in potentiating kanamycin-mediated killing of Edwardsiella piscicida

We previously showed that glucose potentiated kanamycin to kill multidrug-resistant Edwardsiella piscicida through activation of the TCA cycle. However, whether other regulatory mechanism is involved requires further investigation. By quantitative proteomics technology, iTRAQ, we systematically mapped the altered proteins in the presence of glucose and identified 94 differentially expressed proteins. The analysis of the altered proteins by pathways, amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism were enriched. And the most significantly altered eight amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, glycine, serine and threonine were investigated for their potentiation of kanamycin to kill EIB202, where glycine, serine and threonine showed the strongest efficacy than the others. The combinations of glycine and serine or glucose with glycine, serine or threonine had the best effects. Moreover, pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities were increased as well as the proton motive force (PMF) and intracellular kanamycin. Finally, inhibitors that disrupt PMF production abolished the potentiation. These results shed light on the mechanism of how glucose promoting the amino acids biosynthesis and metabolism to potentiate kanamycin to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More importantly, our results suggested that adjusting amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism might be a strategy to become phenotypic resistance to antibiotics in bacteria.

SIGNIFICANCE

Tackling antibiotic resistance is an emerging issue in current years. Despite the efforts made toward developing new antibiotics, the progress is still lagged behind expectation. Novel strategies are required. The use of metabolite to revert antibiotic resistant is highly appreciated in recent years due to the less toxicity, more economic and high efficacy. As a continued study of our previous report on glucose potentiating kanamycin to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The current study further expands the previous discovery on the mechanism of how glucose potentiate this effect. This result provides more basis on the action of glucose in reverting antibiotic resistance. And more importantly, we may derive more metabolites other than glucose to manage antibiotic resistance.

Central Nervous Activity upon Systemic Salicylate Application in Animals with Kanamycin-Induced Hearing Loss--A Manganese-Enhanced MRI (MEMRI) Study

This study investigated the effect of systemic salicylate on central auditory and non-auditory structures in mice. Since cochlear hair cells are known to be one major target of salicylate, cochlear effects were reduced by using kanamycin to remove or impair hair cells. Neuronal brain activity was measured using the non-invasive manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique. For all brain structures investigated, calcium-related neuronal activity was increased following systemic application of a sodium salicylate solution: probably due to neuronal hyperactivity. In addition, it was shown that the central effect of salicylate was not limited to the auditory system. A general alteration of calcium-related activity was indicated by an increase in manganese accumulation in the preoptic area of the anterior hypothalamus, as well as in the amygdala. The present data suggest that salicylate-induced activity changes in the auditory system differ from those shown in studies of noise trauma. Since salicylate action is reversible, central pharmacological effects of salicylate compared to those of (permanent) noise-induced hearing impairment and tinnitus might induce different pathophysiologies. These should therefore, be treated as different causes with the same symptoms.

Role of epidermal growth factor and growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 in acceleration of renal tissue repair after kanamycin overdosing in rats

INTRODUCTION

Aminoglycosides nephrotoxicity limits their use in clinical practice. Growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP6) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have proven cytoprotective effects in various tissues, including the kidney. This study aimed to determine the cytoprotective effect of EGF and GHRP6 on glomerular, proximal tubular, and interstitial morphology in rats treated with an overdose of kanamycin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-four male Wistar adults rats were submitted to treatment for 20 days with sodium phosphate saline buffer (control group), kanamycin (kanamycin group), kanamycin and EGF (EGF group), kanamycin and GHRP6 (GHRP6 group), kanamycin, EGF, and GHRP6 (EGF-GHRP6 group). The kidneys were studied both during acute kidney injury (n = 19) and recovery phases (n = 25). The percentages of glomerular damage, tubular damage (reversible and irreversible changes), and interstitial damage were quantified in 10 histological fields per kidney using paraffin-embedded sections.

RESULTS

The damage in the glomeruli, proximal tubules, and interstitium was less in the groups treated with the cytoprotective treatments than in kanamycin group during acute kidney injury. During the recovery phase, normal structure of several glomeruli and the interstitium was appreciated in the EGF and GHRP6 groups, although tissue repair was not as complete as it in the EGF-GHRP6 group. In the recovery phase, cytoprotective treatments accelerated the recovery of tubular damage and reversible tubular changes prevailed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm the cytoprotective properties of EGF and GHRP6 alone and in combination and suggest the possibility of using these agents to accelerate kidney tissue repair after aminoglycoside-induced renal damage.

Therapeutic effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated ADNF-9 expression on cochlea of kanamycin-deafened guinea pigs

CONCLUSION

rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9 could ameliorate the damage to auditory function and repair previous impairment of cochlear hair cell loss induced by kanamycin.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effect of ADNF-9 on cochlear hair cells using the recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying fusion gene NT4-ADNF-9 and the kanamycin-deafened guinea pig model.

METHODS

Forty white guinea pigs with normal auricle reflex and normal auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were randomly divided into four groups. Kanamycin was administered to the animals in groups A, B, and C to establish the deafened guinea pig model. rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9, vector only, and artificial perilymph were then delivered to the cochlear tissue of animals in groups A, B, and C, respectively, through the round window membrane. Animals in group D did not receive any treatment and acted as normal controls. The hearing thresholds on the surgery side were recorded before and after the transfection treatment. Fourteen days after treatment, cochleae were removed for paraffin slide preparation and cochlear surface preparation. A phase contrast microscope was used to observe the protective effect of ADNF-9 on hair cells.

RESULTS

Significant reduction of the ABR threshold was observed after rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9 treatment (p < 0.05). After 14 days of treatment, the ABR threshold was also significantly different between the rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9-infected group and the non-infected group. Moreover, phase contrast microscopy showed significantly less hair cell damage or hair cell loss in the group treated with rAAV-NT4-ADNF-9 than in the groups treated with vector only or artificial perilymph (p < 0.05).

[Math1 gene therapy for kanamycin and furosemide-induced deaf guinea pigs]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the morphology and function changes of cochlear hair cells before and after math1 gene injection into the cochlea of deaf guinea pigs which were induced by kanamycin and furosemide. To explore the feasibility of Math1 gene for medicine-induced deafness therapy.

METHODS

Kanamycin (500 mg/kg) and furosemide (50 mg/kg) were given to the healthy adult guinea pigs intramuscularly and intravenously to establish the deafness model. The guinea pigs whose auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold > 95 dB SPL were randomly divided into five groups. Blank control group (without any treatment, n = 3), operation control group (right ear scala tympani operation, n = 3), artificial perilymph group (right ear scala tympani injection artificial perilymph, n = 3), virus vector group [right ear scala tympani injection adenovirus which carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene (Ad. EGFP) , n = 4], Math1 gene therapy group [right ear scala tympani injection adenovirus which carrying Math1 and EGFP gene (Ad. Math1-EGFP), n = 6]. Each animal received ABR test before and after injection. The cochlear tissue was observed by scanning electronic microscopy.

RESULTS

The ABR thresholds of tone burst( 4, 8, 16, 20 kHz ) were not statistically significant in different groups (P > 0.05). The number of hair cells increased in some of severe deaf guinea pigs after the injection of Ad. Math1-EGFP gene. However, there was no obvious difference with morphology and numbers of cochlea hair cells in other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The injection of Math1 gene to cochlea can regenerate or repair the hair cells of medicine-induced deaf guinea pigs, but there was no improvement on the hearing loss.

Response of bacterial isolates from Antarctic shallow sediments towards heavy metals, antibiotics and polychlorinated biphenyls

The response of bacterial isolates from Antarctic sediments to polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1242 mixture), heavy metal salts (cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc) and antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin and streptomycin) was investigated. Overall, the ability to growth in the presence of Aroclor 1242 as a sole carbon source was observed for 22 isolates that mainly belonged to Psychrobacter spp. Tolerance to the heavy metals assayed in this study was in the order of Cd > Cu > Zn > Hg and appeared to be strictly related to the metal concentrations, as determined during previous chemical surveys in the same area. With regards to antibiotic assays, the response of the isolates to the tested antibiotics ranged from complete resistance to total susceptibility. In particular, resistances to ampicillin and chloramphenicol were very pronounced in the majority of isolates. Our isolates differently responded to the presence of toxic compounds primarily based on their phylogenetic affiliation and secondarily at strain level. Moreover, the high incidence of resistance either to metal or antibiotics, in addition to the capability to grow on PCBs, confirm that bacteria are able to cope and/or adapt to the occurrence pollutants even in low human-impacted environments.

Changes in auditory brainstem response (ABR) in Kanamycin-induced auditory disturbance model rats

This study was designed to evaluate changes in auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the course of auditory disturbance in rats induced by Kanamycin (KM). KM was administered subcutaneously to 12 CD (SD) male rats aged 6 weeks for 10 days at a dose of 800 mg/kg. Death was observed in one male on day 8 and 2 males on day 10. It was thought that kidney damage was the cause of death from histopathological findings. ABR was recorded before KM treatment and on days 4, 8, 10 and 11 after KM treatment. The ABR changes after KM treatment in rats were as follows. On day 4, 6 rats showed an increase in amplitude of waves I and/or II and on day 8, among those, 4 rats still showed a high amplitude of waves I and/or II. On day 8, 2 rats showed an elevation of ABR threshold (15-40 dB SPL) and a decrease in amplitude of wave I and increase in amplitude of wave II at the same time. On day 11, 7 rats showed a decrease in amplitude of wave I. In addition, ABR threshold shifts (10-70 dB SPL) were observed in those rats. In ABR recording, KM-induced auditory disturbance model rats showed an increase in amplitude of waves I and/or II earlier than an ABR threshold shift. By analyzing temporal alteration of amplitude of the ABR components, we could detect precursory phenomenon of the auditory disturbance at an early phase of treatment. By following the pathway of click-ABR and tone pip-ABR examination, the auditory disturbance of low- frequency to high-frequency range could be analyzed at an early date in detail.

[Ototoxicity of kanamycin sulfate in adult rats and its underlying mechanisms]

The aim of the present study was to assess the ototoxicity of kanamycin sulfate (KM) in adult rats and its underlying mechanism. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-7 weeks old) were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. The animals in the experimental group were injected subcutaneously with KM (500 mg/kg per day) for two weeks, and the control group received equal volume of normal saline. To assess the ototoxicity of KM, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was recorded to monitor the changes in hearing thresholds, and the density of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) and morphology of cochlea were observed using surface preparations and frozen sections of cochlea. The results showed that the hearing threshold of rats in the experimental group was elevated by more than 60 dB across all the frequencies two weeks after the first administration of KM. And in the experimental group, the density of SGCs became lower, and organ of Corti suffered loss of hair cells. The loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) was more severe than that of inner hair cells (IHCs), correlated with the density decrease of SGCs. We conclude that the ototoxicity of KM in the adult rats was apparent and the underlying mechanism is associated with the loss of SGCs and hair cells.

Notch signaling and Hes labeling in the normal and drug-damaged organ of Corti

During the development of the inner ear, the Notch cell signaling pathway is responsible for the specification of the pro-sensory domain and influences cell fate decisions. It is assumed that Notch signaling ends during maturity and cannot be reinitiated to alter the fate of new or existing cells in the organ of Corti. This is in contrast to non-mammalian species which reinitiate Delta 1-Notch1 signaling in response to trauma in the auditory epithelium, resulting in hair cell regeneration through transdifferentiation and/or mitosis. We report immunohistochemical data and Western protein analysis showing that in the aminoglycoside-damaged guinea pig organ of Corti, there is an increase in proteins involved in Notch activation occurring within 24h of a chemical hair cell lesion. The signaling response is characterized by the increased presence of Jagged1 ligand in pillar and Deiters cells, Notch1 signal in surviving supporting cell nuclei, and the absence of Jagged2 and Delta-like1. The pro-sensory bHLH protein Atoh1 was absent at all time points following an ototoxic lesion, while the repressor bHLH transcription factors Hes1 and Hes5 were detected in surviving supporting cell nuclei in the former inner and outer hair cell areas, respectively. Notch pathway proteins peaked at 2 weeks, decreased at 1 month, and nearly disappeared by 2 months. These results indicate that the mammalian auditory epithelium retains the ability to regulate Notch signaling and Notch-dependent Hes activity in response to cellular trauma and that the signaling is transient. Additionally, since Hes activity antagonizes the transcription of pro-sensory Atoh1, the presence of Hes after a lesion may prohibit the occurrence of transdifferentiation in the surviving supporting cells.

Non-sensory cells in the deafened organ of Corti: approaches for repair

After moderate cochlear trauma, hair cells degenerate and their places are taken by phalangeal scars formed by differentiated supporting cells. A short time after trauma, these supporting cells can respond to an induced expression of genes which signal hair cell differentiation during normal development and transdifferentiate into new hair cells. However, these non-sensory cells often lose their differentiated features after severe insults or prolonged hearing loss and become a simple, flat epithelium. The flat organ of Corti can serve as a substrate for gene- and stem cell-based therapies. Despite its prevalence, the flat epithelium is not well characterized. Recent data show that cells of the flat epithelium can divide and maintain the structural confluence of the membranous labyrinth. The mitotic potential of these cells should facilitate production of cells for therapies based on recapitulation of development or insertion of stem cells.

[Sensitivity to the ototoxicity of kanamycin of the rat model for mimetic aging in the inner ear]

OBJECTIVE

To research the animal model with mimetic aging effect in the inner ear predispose to the ototoxicity of kanamycin.

METHODS

Fifty wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A (D-galactose group, n = 14) were treated with hypodermic 5% D-galactose (150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 8 weeks and then with intraperitoneal saline for 10 days; group B (D-galactose and kanamycin group, n = 14) were given the same dose of D-galactose but kanamycin (500 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) instead of saline; group C (kanamycin group, n = 12) were treated with saline for 8 weeks and then with intraperitoneal kanamycin for 10 days;group D (control group, n = 10) were given saline only. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to detect the hearing threshold of rats and colorimetry was used to analyze the activity of the GSH-PX. The inner ear tissue was harvested and the mitochondrial DNA was amplified to identify the 4834 bp deletion mutation by nested primer polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) technique.

RESULTS

The incidence of mitochondrial DNA 4834 bp deletion mutation was 100% (28/28) in group A, 92.86% (26/28) in group B and 0% in group C or group D. The activity of GSHPX in group A was (59.07 +/- 8.70)U, (63.29 +/- 12. 40)U in group B, (136.67 +/- 9.53)U in group C and (142.10 +/- 7.02)U in group D. The difference between group A and D was significant (P = 0.000) while the difference between group A and B was not significant (P = 0.307), which was similarly as between group C and group D (P = 0.151). ABR threshold was (5.36 +/- 3.08) dB peSPL in group A, (61.79 +/- 11.20) dB peSPL in group B, (34.17 +/- 4.69) dB peSPL in group C and (6.50 +/- 3.37) dB peSPL in group D. No difference was found between group A and D (P = 0.398) while the difference in shift of ABR threshold between group B and group C (or group D) was significant (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS

The mimetic aging effect in the inner ear of the rat can be induced by D-galactose, and these rats present high incidence of mtDNA4834 deletion which can greatly enhance the sensitivity of the inner ear to the kanamycin.

Prosurvival and proapoptotic intracellular signaling in rat spiral ganglion neurons in vivo after the loss of hair cells

Neurons depend on afferent input for survival. Rats were given daily kanamycin injections from P8 to P16 to destroy hair cells, the sole afferent input to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Most SGNs die over an approximately 14-week period after deafferentation. During this period, the SGN population is heterogeneous. At any given time, some SGNs exhibit apoptotic markers--TUNEL and cytochrome c loss--whereas others appear nonapoptotic. We asked whether differences among SGNs in intracellular signaling relevant to apoptotic regulation could account for this heterogeneity. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation, which reflects neurotrophic signaling, is reduced in many SGNs at P16, P23, and P32, when SGNs begin to die. In particular, nearly all apoptotic SGNs exhibit reduced phospho-CREB, implying that apoptosis is due to insufficient neurotrophic support. However, >32% of SGNs maintain high phospho-CREB levels, implying access to neurotrophic support. By P60, when approximately 50% of the SGNs have died, phospho-CREB levels in surviving neurons are not reduced, and SGN death is no longer correlated with reduced phospho-CREB. Activity in the proapoptotic Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-Jun signaling pathway is elevated in SGNs during the cell death period. This too is heterogeneous: <42% of the SGNs exhibited high phospho-Jun levels, but nearly all SGNs undergoing apoptosis exhibited elevated phospho-Jun. Thus, heterogeneity among SGNs in prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling is correlated with apoptosis. SGN death following deafferentation has an early phase in which apoptosis is correlated with reduced phospho-CREB and a later phase in which it is not. Proapoptotic JNK-Jun signaling is tightly correlated with SGN apoptosis.

Adeno-associated virus-mediated Bcl-xL prevents aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss in mice

BACKGROUND

Recent studies showed that aminoglycosides destroyed the cochlear cells and induced ototoxicity by producing reactive oxygen species, including free radicals in the mitochondria, damaging the membrane of mitochondria and resulting in apoptotic cell death. Bcl-x(L) is a well characterized anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. The aim of this study was to determine the potential cochlear protective effect of Bcl-x(L) as a therapeutic agent in the murine model of aminoglycoside ototoxicity.

METHODS

Serotype 2 of adeno-associated virus (AAV2) as a vector encoding the mouse Bcl-x(L) gene was injected into mice cochleae prior to injection of kanamycin. Bcl-x(L) expression in vitro and in vivo was examined with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry separately. Cochlear dissection and auditory steady state responses were checked to evaluate the cochlear structure and function.

RESULTS

The animals in the AAV2-Bcl-x(L)/kanamycin group displayed better auditory steady state responses hearing thresholds and cochlear structure than those in the artificial perilymph/kanamycin or AAV2-enhanced humanized green fluorescent protein/kanamycin control group at all tested frequencies. The auditory steady state responses hearing thresholds and cochlear structure in the inoculated side were better than that in the contralateral side.

CONCLUSIONS

AAV2-Bcl-x(L) afforded significant preservation of the cochlear hair cells against ototoxic insults and protected the cochlear function. AAV2-mediated Bcl-x(L) might be an approach with respect to potential therapeutic application in the cochlear degeneration.

Antibiotic amoxicillin induces DNA lesions in mammalian cells possibly via the reactive oxygen species

Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed drug for anti- bacterial infection. In this study, we are interested in the effect of the drug on the cellular DNA integrity. Amoxicillin was added to the human or hamster cells in culture, and the DNA lesions induced by the drug were assessed by a comet assay with nuclear extract incubation (Wang et al., 2005 Anal Biochem 337: 70-75). Amoxicillin at 5mM rapidly induced DNA lesions in human AGS cells. The level of DNA lesions attained a maximum at about 1h, and then declined steadily and reached almost the basal level at 6h following the drug treatment. Similar induction pattern of DNA lesions was found with amoxicillin-related antibiotics such as ampicillin but not with the unrelated antibiotics such as kanamycin. For studying the repair kinetics, the cells were treated with amoxicillin for only 1h and continued culture in the absence of the drug for a certain period of time before subsequent analysis. Repair of the amoxicillin-induced DNA lesions was essentially completed within 4h. Such repair may not involve nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway because the repair was completed with similar kinetics in both NER proficient Chinese hamster CHO-K1 cells and its isogenic NER deficient UV24 cells. Instead, the repair may involve base excision repair (BER) pathway because immunodepletion of OGG1/2, glycosylases involved in BER rendered the nuclear extract unable to excise DNA lesions induced by amoxicillin in the modified comet assay. Furthermore, amoxicillin induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the tempo similar to that of DNA lesions induction. Thus, we hypothesize that amoxicillin causes oxidative DNA damage in mammalian cells via ROS.

Rac/Rho pathway regulates actin depolymerization induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics

Stress stimuli can lead to remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and subsequent alteration of cell adhesion and permeation as well as cell functions and cell fate. We investigated redox-dependent Rho GTPase-linked pathways controlling the actin cytoskeleton in the inner ear of the CBA mouse, by using aminoglycoside antibiotics as a noxious stimulus that causes loss of sensory cells via the formation of reactive oxygen species. Kanamycin treatment in vivo interfered with the formation of F-actin, disturbed the arrangement of beta-actin in the stereocilia of outer hair cells, and altered the intermittent adherens junction/tight junction complexes between outer hair cells and supporting cells. The drug treatment also activated Rac1 and promoted the formation of the complex of Rac1 and p67phox while decreasing the activity of RhoA and reducing the formation of the RhoA/p140mDia complex. In inner-ear-derived cell lines, expression of mutated Rac1 changed the structural arrangement of F-actin and diminished the immunoreactivity of p140mDia. These findings suggest that actin depolymerization induced by kanamycin is mediated by Rac1 activation, followed by the formation of superoxide by NADPH oxidase. These changes will ultimately contribute to aminoglycoside-induced loss of hair cells.

Aminoglycoside ototoxicity in three murine strains and effects on NKCC1 of stria vascularis

BACKGROUND

After establishing a murine model of aminoglycoside antibiotic (AmAn) induced ototoxicity, the sensitivity of AmAn induced ototoxicity in three murine strains and the effect of kanamycin on the expression of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) in stria vascularis were investigated.

METHODS

C57BL/6J, CBA/CaJ, NKCC1(+/-) mice (24 of each strain) were randomly divided into four experimental groups: A: kanamycin alone; B: kanamycin plus 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate; C: 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate alone; and D: control group. Mice were injected with kanamycin or/and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate twice daily for 14 days. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured and morphology of cochlea delineated with succinate dehydrogenase staining. Expression of NKCC1 in stria vascularis was detected immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

All three strains in groups A and B developed significant ABR threshold shifts (P < 0.01), which were accompanied by outer hair cell loss. NKCC1 expression in stria vascularis was the weakest in group A (A cf D, P < 0.01) and the strongest in groups C and D (P < 0.05). CBA/CaJ mice had the highest sensitivity to AmAn.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of kanamycin established AmAn induced ototoxicity. Kanamycin inhibited the expression of NKCC1 in stria vascularis. 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate attenuated AmAn induced ototoxicity-possibly by enhancing the expression of NKCC1. Age related hearing loss did not show additional sensitivity to AmAn induced ototoxicity in murine model.

The fate of outer hair cells after acoustic or ototoxic insults

In epithelial sheets, clearance of dead cells may occur by one of several routes, including extrusion into the lumen, phagocytic clearance by invading lymphocytes, or phagocytosis by neighboring cells. The fate of dead cochlear outer hair cells is unclear. We investigated the fate of the "corpses" of dead outer hair cells in guinea pigs and mice following drug or noise exposure. We examined whole mounts and plastic sections of normal and lesioned organ of Corti for the presence of prestin, a protein unique to outer hair cells. Supporting cells, which are devoid of prestin in the normal ear, contained clumps of prestin in areas of hair cell loss. The data show that cochlear supporting cells surround the corpses and/or debris of degenerated outer hair cells, and suggest that outer hair cell remains are phagocytosed by supporting cells within the epithelium.

Caspase-independent pathways of hair cell death induced by kanamycin in vivo

Cochlear and vestibular sensory cells undergo apoptosis when exposed to aminoglycoside antibiotics in organ culture, but mechanisms of chronic drug-induced hair cell loss in vivo are unclear. We investigated cell death pathways in a mouse model of progressive kanamycin-induced hair cell loss. Hair cell nuclei showed both apoptotic- and necrotic-like appearances but markers for classic apoptotic pathways (cytochrome c, caspase-9, caspase-3, JNK, TUNEL) were absent. In contrast, drug treatment caused EndoG translocation, activation of mu-calpain, and both the synthesis and activation of cathepsin D. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) was decreased, but a caspase-derived 89 kDa PARP1 fragment was not present. The mRNA level of PARP1 remained unchanged. Thus, chronic administration of aminoglycosides causes multiple forms of cell death, without a major contribution by classic apoptosis. These results provide a better understanding of the toxic effects of aminoglycosides and are relevant to design protection from aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.

[Kanamycin induced ototoxicity in three kinds of mouse strains and its effects on the expression of na-K-2Cl co-transporter-1 in stria vascularis]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a mice model of aminoglycoside antibiotics (AmAn) induced ototoxicity. Then to investigate the sensitivity of AmAn induced ototoxicity in three mouse strains and effect of kanamycin on the expression of Na-K-2Cl co-transporter-1 (NKCC1) in stria vascularis.

METHODS

C57BL/ 6J, CBA/CaJ, NKCC1 +/- mice (each of twenty-four) were randomly divided into four experimental groups A, B, C and D (A kanamycin alone, B kanamycin plus 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate, C 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate alone, D control group). Mice were injected with kanamycin or/and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate for 14 days. Auditory function was measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) and morphology of cochlea was observed by succinate dehydrogenase staining. Expression of NKCC1 was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Mice in group A developed significant ABR threshold shifts (P < 0.01), which were accompanied by out hair cells loss. Mice in group B significantly attenuated ABR threshold shifts with out hair cells loss (P <0.01). The immunostaining of NKCC1 in stria vascularis was attenuated significantly in group A compared with group D (P < 0.01) while the immunostaining in group B was enhanced than which in group A (P < 0.01). CBA/CaJ mice has the highest sensitivity to AmAn in three mouse strains.

CONCLUSIONS

An mouse model of AmAn induced ototoxicity could be established by administration of kanamycin. Kanamycin could inhibit the expression of NKCC1 in stria vascularis. 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate could attenuate AmAn induced ototoxicity maybe by enhancing the expression of NKCC1. Mice that had the characteristic of presbycusis didn't show additional sensitivity of AmAn induced ototoxicity.

Resprouting and survival of guinea pig cochlear neurons in response to the administration of the neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3

Degeneration of auditory neurons occurs after deafening and is associated with damage to the organ of Corti. The administration of neurotrophins can protect auditory neurons against degeneration if given shortly after deafening. However, it is not known whether the delayed administration of neurotrophins, when significant degeneration has already occurred, will provide similar protection. Furthermore, little is known about the effects of neurotrophins on the peripheral processes of the auditory neurons or whether these neurons can resprout. This study examined the morphological effects on auditory neurons following deafening and the administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3. Results showed that neurotrophins were effective in preventing death of auditory neurons if administered 5 days after deafening and were also effective in preventing the continued loss of neurons if the administration was delayed by 33 days. The peripheral processes of auditory neurons in cochleae that received neurotrophins were in greater number and had larger diameters compared with the untreated cochleae. Localized regions of resprouting peripheral processes were observed in deafened cochleae and were enhanced in response to neurotrophin treatment, occurring across wider regions of the cochlea. These findings have significant implications for an improvement in the performance of the cochlear implant and for future therapies to restore hearing to the deaf.

Kanamycin ototoxicity in glutamate transporter knockout mice

Glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), a powerful glutamate uptake system, removes released glutamate from the synaptic cleft and facilitates the re-use of glutamate as a neurotransmitter recycling system. Aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss is mediated via a glutamate excitotoxic process. We investigated the effect of aminoglycoside ototoxicity in GLAST knockout mice using the recorded auditory brainstem response (ABR) and number of hair cells in the cochlea. Kanamycin (100 mg/mL) was injected directly into the posterior semicircular canal of mice. Before the kanamycin treatment, there was no difference in the ABR threshold average between the wild-type and knockout mice. Kanamycin injection aggravated the ABR threshold in the GLAST knockout mice compared with the wild-type mice, and the IHC degeneration was more severe in the GLAST knockout mice. These findings suggest that GLAST plays an important role in preventing the degeneration of inner hair cells in aminoglycoside ototoxicity.

[The relationship between the fragment deletion of mtDNA in old rat and the sensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic induced deafness]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationship between the fragnent deletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of inner ear in rats and aminoglycoside antibiotic induced deafness (AAID), and to investigate the possible role of mtDNA deletion in the sensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic induced deafness in old rat.

METHOD

Thirty wistar rats were divided into group A (old rat, > 24 months, n = 15) and group B (young rat, 4 months, n = 15) according to the age. Kanamycin (KM) was intraperitoneally injected 500 mg/kg per day for 10 consecutive day in all rats. The threshold of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured before and after the drug administrations. The inner ear tissue was harvested and the mtDNA was amplified to identify the 4834 bp deletion by PCR technique.

RESULT

The elevation of the mean ABR thresholds in group A (42.08 +/- 8.19) dB peSPL was significantly higher than that in group B (12.71 +/- 4.42) dB peSPL (P < 0.01). In group A, 10 of the 15 rats demonstrate the mtDNA4834 deletion and the elevation of the mean ABR thresholds in the rats with mtDNA4834 deletion (45.00 +/- 7.67) dB peSPL was significantly higher than that without so deletion (33.33 +/- 4.08) dB peSPL (P < 0.01). However, mtDNA4834 deletion was negative in group B.

CONCLUSION

Deletion of mtDNA of inner ear tissue in old rat is found. The mtDNA deletion may play an important role in the hypersensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic ototoxiciy in old rats.

Natural antioxidant L-carnosine inhibits LPO intensification in structures of the auditory analyzer under conditions of chronic exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics

Intragastric administration of L-carnosine suspension to Wistar-Kyoto rats 3 days before and after 7-day course of intraperitoneal injections of ototoxic aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin compensated expenditures of tissue antioxidant systems and significantly eliminated kanamycin-induced intensification of MDA production in tissues of the membrane part of the cochlea and in the auditory cortex of the temporal lobe. L-NAME (competitive NO synthase inhibitor) also inhibited LPO, increased total antioxidant activity, and decreased ototoxicity of kanamycin, which confirms the contribution of NO into LPO intensification under conditions of aminoglycoside treatment. Inhibition of pathological intensification of LPO processes and increase in total antioxidant activity under conditions of induced acute aminoglycoside ototoxicity characterizes L-carnosine as a highly effective otoprotector.

Aminoglycoside toxicity: daily versus thrice-weekly dosing for treatment of mycobacterial diseases

Aminoglycoside use is limited by ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This study compared the incidences of toxicities associated with 2 recommended dosing regimens. Eighty-seven patients with tuberculosis or nontuberculous mycobacterial infections were prospectively randomized by drug to receive 15 mg/kg per day or 25 mg/kg 3 times per week of intravenous streptomycin, kanamycin, or amikacin. Doses were adjusted to achieve target serum concentrations. The size of the dosage and the frequency of administration were not associated with the incidences of ototoxicity (hearing loss determined by audiogram), vestibular toxicity (determined by the findings of a physical examination), or nephrotoxicity (determined by elevated serum creatinine levels). Risk of ototoxicity (found in 32 [37%] of the patients) was associated with older age and with a larger cumulative dose received. Vestibular toxicity (found in 8 [9%] of the patients) usually resolved, and nephrotoxicity (found in 13 [15%] of the patients) was mild and reversible in all cases. Subjective changes in hearing or balance did not correlate with objective findings. Streptomycin, kanamycin, and amikacin can be administered either daily or 3 times weekly without affecting the likelihood of toxicity.

Desynchronization of electrically evoked auditory-nerve activity by high-frequency pulse trains of long duration

Rubinstein et al. [Hear. Res. 127, 108-118 (1999)] suggested that the neural representation of the waveforms of electric stimuli might be improved by introducing an ongoing, high-rate, desynchronizing pulse train (DPT). A DPT may desynchronize neural responses to electric stimulation in a manner similar to spontaneous activity in a healthy ear. To test this hypothesis, responses of auditory-nerve fibers (ANFs) to 10-min-long electric pulse trains (5 kpps) were recorded from acutely deafened, anesthetized cats. Stimuli were delivered via an intracochlear electrode, and their amplitude was chosen to elicit a response in most ANFs. Responses to pulse trains showed pronounced adaptation during the first 1-2 min, followed by either a sustained response or cessation of spike discharges for the remainder of the stimulus. The adapted discharge rates showed a broad distribution across the ANF population like spontaneous activity. However, a higher proportion of fibers (46%) responded to the DPT at rates below 5 spikes/s than for spontaneous activity, and 12% of the fibers responded at higher rates than any spontaneously active fiber. Interspike interval histograms of sustained responses for some fibers had Poisson-like (exponential) shapes, resembling spontaneous activity, while others exhibited preferred intervals and, occasionally, bursting. Simultaneous recordings from pairs of fibers revealed no evidence of correlated activity, suggesting that the DPT does desynchronize the auditory nerve activity. Overall, these results suggest that responses to an ongoing DPT resemble spontaneous activity in a normal ear for a substantial fraction of the ANFs.

Improved neural representation of vowels in electric stimulation using desynchronizing pulse trains

Current cochlear implant processors poorly represent sound waveforms in the temporal discharge patterns of auditory-nerve fibers (ANFs). A previous study [Litvak et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114, 2079-2098 (2003)] showed that the temporal representation of sinusoidal stimuli can be improved in a majority of ANFs by encoding the stimuli as small modulations of a sustained, high-rate (5 kpps), desynchronizing pulse train (DPT). Here, these findings are extended to more complex stimuli by recording ANF responses to pulse trains modulated by bandpass filtered vowels. Responses to vowel modulators depended strongly on the discharge pattern evoked by the unmodulated DPT. ANFs that gave sustained responses to the DPT had period histograms that resembled the modulator waveform for low (< 5%) modulation depths. Spectra of period histograms contained peaks near the formant frequencies. In contrast, ANFs that gave a transient (< 1 min) response to the DPT poorly represented the formant frequencies. A model incorporating a linear modulation filter, a noisy threshold, and neural refractoriness predicts the shapes of period histograms for both types of fibers. These results suggest that a DPT-enhanced strategy may achieve good representation of the stimulus fine structure in the temporal discharge patterns of ANFs for frequencies up to 1000 Hz. It remains to be seen whether these temporal discharge patterns can be utilized by cochlear implant subjects.

[Morphologic studies of the protective role of catechin on kanamycin otoneurotoxicity in SD rats]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the protection of catechin on aminoglycoside antibiotics otoneurotoxicity in SD rats, and observe the morphologic changes of cochlear efferent nerve terminals and outer hair cells after the injection of kanamycin and the feeding of catechin by the stomach tube.

METHODS

Thirty-eight SD rats were randomly assigned into three experimental groups (KM-treated, catechin-treated, KM and catechin in combination) and one control group. The KM-treated group was given kanamycin in a dose of 500 mg.(kg.d)-1 for 14 days. The catechin-treated group was given catechin once by the stomach tube in a dose of 400 mg.(kg.d)-1. Two kinds of medicine were simultaneously given in the KM+ catechin group. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the subcellular structure of efferent nerve fibers and outer hair cells. The densities of efferent nerve fibers and terminals were examined and the numbers of efferent nerve fibers and terminals were numerated by the surface preparation using modified histochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase (AchE).

RESULTS

The damage in the group protected by catechin was relieved compared with the unprotected group. No damage was found in the catechin-treated alone group and controls. The densities and numbers of efferent nerve fibers and terminals were obviously fewer in the unprotected group than in the protected group and controls(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the numbers of efferent nerve fibers and terminals of the group protected by catechin compared with the controls and the catechin-treated group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Catechin significantly protects MOC efferent nerves in kanamycin otoneurotoxicity.

Functional and morphological response of the stria vascularis following a sensorineural hearing loss

Cochlear endolymph is maintained at a potential of (+)80 mV by an active transport mechanism involving the stria vascularis (SV). This so-called endocochlear potential (EP) is integral to hair cell transduction. We compared the EP with changes in SV area and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase expression following a sensorineural hearing loss. Guinea pigs were deafened using kanamycin and a loop diuretic, and the EP was measured at two, 14, 56, 112 or 224 days following deafening. Auditory brainstem responses were used to confirm that each animal had a severe-profound hearing loss. There was a significant reduction in EP following two days of deafness (normal, 73.5 mV S.E.M.=2.4; deaf, 42.1 mV, S.E.M.=2.8; P<0.0001, t-test). In animals deafened for 14 days the EP had partially recovered (65.2 mV, S.E.M.=5.08), while animals deafened for longer periods exhibited a complete recovery (56 days 80.5 mV, S.E.M.=5.36; 112 days 75.7 mV, S.E.M.=2.71; 224 days 81.0 mV; S.E.M.=6.0). Despite this recovery, there was a systematic reduction in SV area with duration of deafness over the first 112 days of deafness. Significant reductions were localised to the basal turn in animals deafened for two days, but had extended to all turns in animals deafened for 112 days. While there was a significant reduction in strial area, the optical density of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase within the remaining SV was normal. Since the treated animals exhibited essentially a complete elimination of all hair cells, the total K(+) leakage current from the scala media would be expected to be significantly reduced. The large reduction in the extent of the SV after deafening suggests that a reduced strial volume is capable of maintaining a normal EP under conditions of reduced K(+) leakage current.

Intra-cochlear administration of dexamethasone attenuates aminoglycoside ototoxicity in the guinea pig

This study demonstrates the attenuation of aminoglycoside ototoxicity by cochlear infusion of dexamethasone (Dex) using a microcannulation-osmotic pump delivery system. The results indicate that treating the cochlea with Dex both before and after kanamycin administration was more effective in preventing ototoxicity than Dex treatment only after kanamycin administration. A concentration of 1 ng/ml Dex showed the greatest protective effect on both kanamycin-induced threshold shift of the auditory brainstem response and outer hair cell survival. These results show that the Dex treatment attenuates both functional and structural damage of the inner ear from aminoglycoside toxicity.

Protective effect of calcium channel blocker verapamil on morphological and functional state of hair cells of the organ of corti in experimental kanamycin-induced ototoxicity

The protective effect of verapamil against acute ototoxic sensorineural damage produced by intraperitoneal injections of kanamycin (50 mg/kg daily for 14 day) was studied on rats. The functional (otoacoustic emission), histological, and physiological methods proved the protective effect of daily injections of calcium channel blocker verapamil (2 mg/kg) on the state of hair cells of the organ of Corti.

Cochlear microphonic potentials: a new recording technique

A new instrumentation and a particular method for detecting and recording cochlear microphonic potentials (CMPs) are described here. The CMPs were recorded in rats by means of pure tones (4,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, and 250 Hz) and intraepidermic electrodes; the electrocochleography technique was avoided. An experimental design that included the use of a glutamatergic agonist (kainic acid [KA]) and an aminoglycoside antibiotic (kanamycin [KANA]) was carried out to demonstrate the origin of the recorded potential. Morphological studies showed that KA selectively eliminated the afferent type I dendrites of the spiral ganglion, while the administration of KANA resulted in the absence of outer hair cells. When CMPs were recorded after KA administration, no alterations were detected. In contrast, KANA administration resulted in the absence of any selective electrophysiological activity corresponding to CMPs. All these results were compared with the recording of the compound action potential of the eighth nerve obtained by electrocochleography. These findings and the great specificity of the reproduction of the sound stimulus confirm that the CMPs can be recorded by the new equipment.

Deafferentation-induced changes in protein kinase C expression in the rat cochlear nucleus

Isoforms of the signal transducing molecule, protein kinase C (PKC), may play a role in neural plasticity following sensory deafferentation. To explore the role of PKC in central auditory plasticity, we studied the effect of auditory deafferentation on the expression of PKC betaI, betaII, gamma, and delta in the rat dorsal (DCN) and ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), using immunocytochemistry. Male rats were treated with kanamycin and furosemide to induce hair cell loss. At various intervals post-treatment, brains were perfusion-fixed and processed for immunocytochemistry. Following deafferentation, we observed a gradual increase in PKC betaI immunoreactivity (ir) in the deepest layers of the DCN, possibly representing synapses of primary afferents or parallel fibers on unlabeled neurons. Correlated with this, we observed an increase in the number of neurons in the deep DCN that showed PKC delta ir. In controls, we observed PKC gamma ir in small ovoid cells concentrated in the middle layer of the DCN. From days 4 through 14 after deafferentation, we found an increase in the intensity of staining of these cells, with a return toward control levels by day 28. Finally, Purkinje-like cells (PLC) in the VCN, which express only PKC delta in control rats, began to express PKC gamma after deafferentation, correlated with increased expression of calbindin D28k in PLC. Thus PKC isoforms are differentially regulated in the CN following deafferentation, supporting a role for PKC in auditory plasticity.

[The role of mtDNA deletion in the sensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic induced deafness]

OBJECTIVE

To establish an animal model of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion and investigate the possible role of mtDNA deletion in aminoglycoside antibiotic induced deafness.

METHODS

Thirty wistar rats (4 months) were randomly divided into group A and B. Doxorubicin (DOX) was subcutaneously injected at doses of 2 mg/kg twice per week for 3 months in group A and then kanamycin (KM) was intraperitoneally injected 500 mg/kg per day for 10 consecutive days. The treatments of group B were identical to group A, except normal saline was substituted for DOX. The thresholds of auditory brainstem response (ABR) were measured before and after the drug administrations. The inner ear membranous labyrinthine tissue was harvested and mtDNA was amplified to identify 4,834 bp deletion by PCR technique.

RESULTS

The elevation of the mean ABR thresholds in group A(67.08 +/- 8.59) dB peSPL was significantly higher than that in group B (12.71 +/- 4.42) dB peSPL after KM administration (P < 0.001). In group A, 9 of the 15 rats demonstrated 4,834 bp mtDNA deletion. However, mtDNA 4,834 bp deletion was negative in group B animals.

CONCLUSION

DOX can induce mtDNA deletion in the inner ear tissue of the rat. mtDNA deletion in the inner ear may play an important role in the hypersensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotic ototoxicity.

A role of glutamate in drug-induced ototoxicity: in vivo microdialysis study combined with on-line enzyme fluorometric detection of glutamate in the guinea pig cochlea

The time course of the changes in perilymphatic glutamate was determined during the application of kanamycin and ethacrynic acid, which are known to damage the hair cells in the inner ear. For the continuous recording of glutamate, the microdialysis technique combined with an enzyme-linked fluorometric assay was used. In guinea pigs receiving a loading dose of 800 mg/kg of kanamycin subcutaneously followed 3 h later by an i.v. injection of 40 mg/kg of ethacrynic acid, a marked glutamate release was clearly found about 2 h after the injection of ethacrynic acid. Injection of kanamycin or ethacrynic acid alone did not produce any change in the perilymphatic glutamate. The morphological changes induced by the administration of both drugs indicated that the collapsing hair cells might release glutamate into the perilymphatic space. The present findings provide additional evidence that glutamate acts as an aggravating factor in aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity.

Increase in glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) mRNA during kanamycin-induced cochlear insult in rats

Kanamycin (KM)-induced changes in expression of the gene for glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) in the rat cochlea were analyzed by Northern blotting. With the administration of KM (600 mg/kg/day) once daily for 20 days, the expression of GLAST mRNA gradually increased and reached a peak on day 20. Although the expression of GLAST mRNA remained at a high level until 12 days after the completion of the KM treatment, it then fell to the normal level within 2 months. Such KM treatment resulted in loss of both inner and outer hair cells and a concomitant profound permanent threshold shift. The present findings suggest that during KM administration, high concentrations of extracellular glutamate released by collapsing hair cells induced GLAST mRNA expression. Increased GLAST mRNA might play an important role in the prevention of the secondary death of spiral ganglion neurons from glutamate neurotoxicity.

[The effect of polikatan on the ototoxic action of kanamycin]

Experiments on guinea pigs demonstrated that preliminary injection of polycatan (standardized magnesium solution containing the mineral bischofite) into the parotid region by means of electrophoresis reduces the ototoxic effect of the aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin. Polycatan prevents kanamycin-induced degenerative changes of the hair cells found in the labyrinth of the internal ear and improves the local blood flow.

The effects of kanamycin injection into the fetal lamb cochlea

Mammalian auditory hair cells have minimal capacity for repair or regeneration after a variety of insults, including acoustic trauma and aminoglycoside exposure. Although fetal tissues have a greater potential for repair and regeneration than adult tissues, there have been no reported studies on fetal hair cell response to injury in mammals. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of local application of kanamycin on fetal lamb cochlear hair cells. Eleven fetal lambs in the early third trimester underwent kanamycin injection through the left round-window membrane. The right ear served as a control. Click-evoked compound action potentials (CAPs) were serially recorded in 8 fetuses. CAPs were observed in all control ears. None of the 8 kanamycin-injected ears had measurable CAPs on postoperative day 1. One kanamycin-injected ear demonstrated definite CAPs, beginning on postoperative day 6. Hair cells were found to be intact in 6 of 9 kanamycin-treated ears. Hair cells were missing only in animals that went into premature labor. The presence of intact hair cells despite the loss of measurable CAPs in kanamycin-perfused lamb cochleae was striking. This finding may indicate that the fetal auditory epithelium is relatively resistant to aminoglycoside injury or may be capable of prompt repair or regeneration. Further studies on the effects of aminoglycoside injury in the fetal cochleae seem to be warranted.

Acute effects of combined administration of kanamycin and furosemide on the stria vascularis studied by distortion product otoacoustic emission and transmission electron microscopy

Acute effects of kanamycin and/or furosemide administration on the stria vascularis of the guinea pig cochlea were assessed by distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and transmission electron microscopy. Kanamycin alone failed to affect the DPOAE levels and ultrastructural changes. Furosemide alone caused a rapid but reversible fall of the DPOAE levels. No remarkable pathological changes in the strial vascularis were observed after a complete recovery of the DPOAEs. On the other hand, furosemide injection following kanamycin with a 2 hour interval resulted in two patterns of significant changes in the DPOAEs, namely, a sudden drop in the DPOAE levels 2 to 3 hours after furosemide injection and a gradual fall in the DPOAE levels immediately after the incomplete recovery from the furosemide-induced decrease of the DPOAE levels. Ultrastructural changes in the stria vascularis included numerous vacuoles in the strial marginal cells and increased electron density of the intermediate and basal cells. These physiological and morphological changes in the stria vascularis may imply new ototoxic features induced by kanamycin potentiated by furosemide.

Iron chelators protect from aminoglycoside-induced cochleo- and vestibulo-toxicity

The attenuation of gentamicin-induced hearing loss by iron chelators and radical scavengers has recently been demonstrated in guinea pig in vivo. The present study investigated whether this protective treatment is effective against hearing loss and vestibular damage caused by other aminoglycosides. In a direct comparison, dihydroxybenzoate was chosen over deferoxamine because of its more effective action against gentamicin-induced hearing loss. Guinea pigs received daily injections of kanamycin (250 mg/kg/d) or streptomycin (300 mg/kg/d) for 23 d to induce severe cochlear or vestibular toxicity, respectively. Kanamycin injections resulted in a progressive threshold shift of 60 to 80 dB at 18 kHz, while streptomycin injections induced only a small threshold shift. In contrast, streptomycin abolished almost all vestibular responses. Coinjection of aminoglycosides with a mixture of dihydroxybenzoate (100 mg/kg/d) and mannitol (30 mg/kg/d) significantly attenuated kanamycin-induced hearing loss and protected against streptomycin-induced vestibulotoxicity. DHB/mannitol did not affect serum levels or the antibacterial efficacy of either aminoglycoside. This study supports the idea that iron and free radicals play a critical role in the toxic side effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Furthermore, the previously proposed therapeutic protection is not limited to gentamicin but applicable to other aminoglycosides as well.

Apoptosis of guinea pig cochlear hair cells following chronic aminoglycoside treatment

Although aminoglycosides have been investigated for their cochleotoxicity, it has still not been determined whether apoptosis or necrosis results in cochlear hair cell death following aminoglycoside treatment. To study possible mechanisms of cell death, we used in situ DNA break-labeling to examine guinea pig cochleae affected by Kanamycin ototoxicity. Chronic kanamycin treatment induced DNA fragmentation that was detectable in both outer and inner hair cells, suggesting the occurrence of apoptosis. These findings suggest that apoptosis achieves deletion of affected hair cells without disrupting tissue architecture in the organ of Corti.

Effects of chronic administration of kanamycin on the basement membrane anionic sites in the crista ampullaris of guinea pigs

The authors investigated the effects of chronic kanamycin (KM) administration on the basement membrane (BM) anionic sites in the ampulla by studying the binding of cationic polyethyleneimine (PEI). KM sulfate was administered intramuscularly to guinea pigs with normal Preyer's reflexes daily for 10 or 17 days. The PEI distribution was unchanged on the subepithelial BM in the dark cell region and on the capillary BM in the crista ampullaris. However, PEI binding decreased significantly on the subepithelial BM in the sensory cell and transitional cell regions of those guinea pigs administered KM for 17 days. In the sensory cell region, the PEI distribution did not recover until 6 weeks after KM treatment. Findings suggest that chronic administration of KM severely alters the number of subepithelial BM anionic sites in the sensory cell region.

Recovery of hearing and vocal behavior after hair-cell regeneration

Postmitotic hair-cell regeneration in the inner ear of birds provides an opportunity to study the effect of renewed auditory input on auditory perception, vocal production, and vocal learning in a vertebrate. We used behavioral conditioning to test both perception and vocal production in a small Australian parrot, the budgerigar. Results show that both auditory perception and vocal production are disrupted when hair cells are damaged or lost but that these behaviors return to near normal over time. Precision in vocal production completely recovers well before recovery of full auditory function. These results may have particular relevance for understanding the relation between hearing loss and human speech production especially where there is consideration of an auditory prosthetic device. The present results show, at least for a bird, that even limited recovery of auditory input soon after deafening can support full recovery of vocal precision.

[Accumulation sites of kanamycin in the organ of Corti by microautoradiography]

The accumulation sites of the 3H-labelled kanamycin in the organ of Corti were observed with electron microscope. The results showed that the accumulation of kanamycin was mainly in the mitochondria, cell membrane and stereocilia of the hair cells. The possible mechanism of the kanamycin accumulation in the mitochondria is their similarity with bacteria in the protein synthesis, i.e. the way that kanamycin might inhibit the protein synthesis in the mitochondria is similar to that of bacteria. The kanamycin accumulation in the cell membrane may indicate the entrance of kanamycin into the hair cells. The kanamycin deposition in the stereocilia was most likely related to its high chemical affinity with glycocalyx.

Organization of cell junctions and cytoskeleton in the reticular lamina in normal and ototoxically damaged organ of Corti

The reticular lamina creates an ion barrier, withstands mechanical stress in the organ of Corti and is able to maintain its integrity during and after severe hair cell loss. Tight junctions maintain the ionic gradient whereas adherens junctions and the cytoskeleton are responsible for the integrity and mechanical resistance of tissues. In this study we used immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to examine the distribution of proteins of tight junctions (cingulin), adherens junctions (E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin) and the cytoskeleton (actin, cytokeratin and tubulin) in whole-mounts of the normal and ototoxically damaged organ of Corti. In normal ears the proteins of adherens junctions were found in all cell types of the reticular lamina. We now demonstrate that all cells forming the reticular lamina partially overlap each other organizing extensive cell contacts with a complex three-dimensional shape. During scar formation, the tight junctions as well as adherens junctions between hair and supporting cells appeared in two distinct focal planes, which could help to preserve the ionic barrier and tissue integrity during hair cell degeneration. During scar formation all cytoskeletal structures in the reticular lamina were reorganized in a specific spatio-temporal pattern. We present a three-dimensional model of cell contact organization in the reticular lamina of normal ears and during scar formation.