title: Ototoxicity of olive oil in a chinchilla animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Olive oil is often used by patients to soften ear wax or to relieve ear canal obstruction. It is also sold in drugstores as a cerumenolytic. To date, no study has assessed the safety of ototopical olive oil on hearing in the presence of tympanic membrane perforation. The present study aimed to assess the safety of ototopic olive oil on hearing in the presence of tympanic membrane perforation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, controlled trial in a chinchilla animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven chinchillas underwent bilateral myringotomy. In each animal, one ear was randomly assigned to receive olive oil (experimental ear), while the contralateral control ear received normal saline. Auditory brain response (ABR) test was performed at baseline and then 7, 14, and 30 days following the application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 30 days follow-up, there was no significant change in auditory brain response thresholds at 8, 16, 20, or 25 kHz. Scanning electron microscope imaging showed no damage to the hair cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Olive oil does not seem to cause hearing loss in chinchillas with perforated tympanic membranes. Future clinical studies are required.
authors.affiliation: McGill Auditory Sciences Laboratory, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D058113:Cerumenolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002682:Chinchilla; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D006801:Humans; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D058113:Cerumenolytic Agents; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Olive oil; animal model; cerumen; chinchilla; ear wax; hearing loss; ototoxicity