A functional and histological study of the combined effects of gentamicin and aminooxyacetic acid on the organ of Corti of the guinea pig.

Aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) is a transaminase inhibitor that has been shown to protect the inner ear from loud noises. This study was done to determine if it can also protect against the cochleotoxic action of gentamicin. Four groups of guinea pigs were injected with gentamicin in doses approximating a clinical therapeutic dose and then in ototoxic doses. Thereafter animals were treated with parenteral AOAA. The effect on hearing was investigated using Preyer's reflex measurements. All animals were sacrificed and their cochleas were examined histologically using the surface preparation technique and mid-modiolar semithin sections. Histocochleograms were plotted to compare the effects of treatment in the animal groups. There was no difference seen among the groups tested. Cochlear damage was nearly equal in all animals, and AOAA was not found to protect the cochlea against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity of gentamicin. The mechanism of the ototoxicity produced is discussed on the basis of the findings. Additionally, hair cell degeneration was studied after therapeutic doses of gentamicin. Changes seen were found to be equal to or less than 5% of the hair cells and were scattered throughout the entire cochlea.