[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.