Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester: a potential protector against gentamicin ototoxicity.
The nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) may act as an otoprotectant against high-frequency hearing loss caused by gentamicin, but further studies are needed to confirm this.Aminoglycoside antibiotics are still widely used by virtue of their efficacy and low cost. Their ototoxicity is a serious health problem and, as their ototoxic mechanism involves the production of NO, we need to assess the use of NO inhibitors for the prevention of aminoglycoside-induced sensorineural hearing loss. In this experimental study we used 30 Sprague-Dawley rats, 27 of which had gentamicin instilled into the middle ear. The otoprotectant L-NAME was administered topically to 12/27 animals. Its effect was determined in terms of attenuation of hearing loss, measured by shifts in the auditory brainstem response threshold. L-NAME reduced gentamicin-induced hearing loss in the high-frequency range, but gave no protection in the middle or low frequencies.
Nordang
Leif
L
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital (Akademiska sjukhuset), Uppsala, Sweden. leif.nordang@akademiska.se
Anniko
Matti
M
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005839:Gentamicins; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester