Salicylate ototoxicity in the chinchilla: a behavioral and electron microscope study.

Normal audiograms were obtained from a group of behaviorally conditioned chinchillas. Following this the animals were injected with sodium salicylate. Temporary hearing losses were measured 1 1/2 hours after treatment. Animals were anesthetized and blood samples taken to determine salicylate levels. The animals were then decapitated and the temporal bones were examined by SEM and TEM. No morphological correlate was seen for temporary hearing losses which were generally in the neighborhood of 30-40 dB.