J Korean Bal Soc.  2005 Dec;4(2):225-229.

Effect of Low Power Laser Irradiation on Gentamicin-Damaged Vestibular System in Guinea Pigs

• Rhee CK
• Kim MC
• Lim ES
• Kim YS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity of otolith organs and preventive effect of low power laser to vestibulotoxicity by assessing the result of earth vertical and the off vertical axis rotation tests.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty guinea pigs were grouped into two groups, laser and no laser group. Vestibulotoxicity was induced by intratympanic injection of gentamicin. Prevention of the vestibulotoxicity was studied by irradiation of low power laser. Off vertical axis rotation tilted 30 degree relative to the earth vertical axis was applied to evaluate the otolithic function.
Results
and CONCLUSION: Gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by gain decreasing in slow harmonic acceleration test and modulation decreasing in the off vertical axis rotation test. Prevention effect of low power laser to gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by modulation maintaining in the off vertical axis rotation test and gain maintaining in the earth vertical axis rotation.

Keyword

Low level laser; Vestibular system; Gentamicin; Ototoxicity; Rotation test

MeSH Terms

Acceleration
Animals
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Gentamicins
Guinea Pigs*
Guinea*
Low-Level Light Therapy*
Otolithic Membrane
Gentamicins