Evaluation of the effect of dexamethasone in experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops in guinea pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the audiological and histopathologic effects of dexamethasone in the treatment of experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops.


METHODS
Thirty mature, male guinea pigs weighing 400 +/- 50 g were operated on to induce experimental endolymphatic hydrops in their right ear. Left ear served as control. Subjects were separated into control and dexamethasone groups, with the latter receiving dexamethasone 5 mg/(kg d) intraperitoneally for 10 days. Electrocochleography and auditory brainstem response were applied to all subjects at preoperation, on the second postoperative day and also on the 15th postoperative day in animals that lived for a long time. The histopathologic examination of the inner ear in all animals was done at the end of the study.


RESULTS
The summating potential and the ratio of the summating potential to the action potential measured on the second postoperative day were found to be increased in both groups, but more significantly in the control one. When the left and right ears were compared, significant difference was found in the control group; however, no significant difference was found between the ears in the dexamethasone group. Histopathologic examination revealed varying degrees of hydrops in the control group, but showed only normal findings or minor changes in the dexamethasone group.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone can prevent the audiological and histopathologic findings of experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops. However, these results must be supported by clinical and experimental studies designed with a large number of subjects.
Ozer
Fulya
F
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. fdeveci06@hotmail.com
Unal
Omer Faruk
OF
Atas
Ahmet
A
Tekin
Ozgül
O
Sungur
Arzu
A
Ayas
Kivanç
K
D000818:Animals; D003055:Cochlear Microphonic Potentials; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone