Artificial activation and degeneration of the cochlear nerve in guinea pigs.

Degeneration of the cochlear nerve was produced in guinea pigs after treatment with high doses of ototoxic antibiotics completely destroying the cochlear receptor. An effective electric stimulation of the inner ear inducing evoked potentials at the auditory cortex was applied over a period of 3.5 months in half of the animals, while the other half was kept for control. The artificial stimulation had no effect on the sensitivity of the inner ear to electric stimulation and did not modify the extent of degeneration of the cochlear nerve.