Whole-body autoradiography of [3H]dihydrostreptomycin in guinea pigs and rats: the labelling of the inner ear in relation to other tissues.

[3H]Dihydrostreptomycin was given intramuscularly to young pigmented guinea pigs and rats. Whole-body autoradiography, combined with densitometric measurement of the blackening of the autoradiograms, and liquid scintillation counting were used to determine the levels of radioactivity in the inner ear in relation to blood and other tissues. It was found that there was an accumulation of radioactivity in the perilymph of both the cochlear and vestibular parts of the labyrinth. The labelling of the endolymph was weak. The levels of radioactivity in the membranous linings of the labyrinth including the areas covered with the neuroepithelial structures, were about the same as in the perilymph. The general distribution pictures were characterized by a localization of radioactivity in extracellular tissues, such as cartilages and connective tissues and by strong labelling of the kidney cortex. The preferential uptake in the perilymph indicates a route by which the inner ear hair cells can be exposed to high levels of aminoglycoside antibiotics.