Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Feb;53(2):77-83. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.77.

The Effect of Memantine on Experimentally Gentamicin Induced Vestibulotoxicity in Guinea Pigs

• Park CH
• Kim EH
• Kim SI
• Rha KS
• Park YH

• KMID: 1455712
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.77

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In general, aminoglycosides are known to cause ototoxicity through the glutamate induced nitric oxide production. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) related glutamate receptors have a pivotal role in aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity. Memantine is known as a safe NMDA antagonist and is also used in some neurologic insults, such as the Alzheimer disease. In this study, we observed the effect of memantine on gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Vestibulotoxicity was induced with intratympanic administration of gentamicin and memantine was injected intraperitoneally to a study group. Histomorphological studies for vestibule were performed via light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical studies were performed for iNOS, nitrotyrosine and apoptosis via TUNEL staining.
RESULTS
The numbers of hair cells were decreased significantly in the gentamicin group than in the gentamicin-memantine group. Increased immunoreactivities for iNOS and nitrotyrosine were observed in the gentamicin group than in the memantine-pretreated gentamicin group. TUNEL positive cells were more frequently observed in the gentamicin group than in the memantinepretreated gentamicin group.
CONCLUSION
This result shows that memantine has a protection effect on gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity in an animal model.

Keyword

Gentamicin; Memantine; Vestibulotoxicity

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease
Aminoglycosides
Animals
Apoptosis
Gentamicins
Glutamic Acid
Guinea
Guinea Pigs
Hair
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Light
Memantine
Microscopy, Electron
Models, Animal
N-Methylaspartate
Nitric Oxide
Receptors, Glutamate
Tyrosine
Aminoglycosides
Gentamicins
Glutamic Acid
Memantine
N-Methylaspartate
Nitric Oxide
Receptors, Glutamate
Tyrosine