title: Quercetine attenuates the gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in a rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective role of quercetin in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity through an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test and a histopathological evaluation of the cochlea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 48 female adult Sprague-Dawley rats aged 20-22 weeks and weighing 200-250g were used. An ABR test was carried out on all rats prior to drug administration, after which, the rats were divided into four groups of 12 animals each. Drug administration was gentamicin 120mg/kg plus ethanol in group one; gentamicin 120mg/kg plus quercetin 15mg/kg in group two; quercetin 15mg/kg in group three; and ethanol in group four. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally once a day for two weeks, and the ABR test was repeated after drug administration. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed and their cochleae were dissected and examined histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the pre-treatment ABR measurement values of the groups. However, a significant increase was detected in the ABR values in the group of rats that were administered gentamicin plus ethanol, while no statistically significant increase was found in the ABR values in the groups administered with gentamicin plus quercetin; quercetin alone; and ethanol alone. The number of TUNEL positive cells in the inner and outer hair cells in the Corti organ was found to be fewer, and Caspase 3 and 9 expressions were found to be weaker in the group receiving gentamicin plus quercetin than in the group receiving gentamicin plus ethanol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Auditory function was detected to be significantly protected and apoptotic cells were found to be decreased when quercetin was administered together with gentamicin. From these results it was concluded that quercetin, a powerful antioxidant, attenuates ABR thresholds and histopathological lesions in the cochlea in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Department of ENT, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: musagit@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagit
authors.affiliation: Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital, Department of ENT, Şanlıurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, School of Vocational Health Service, Department of Histology and Embryology, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seren Gulsen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gürgen
authors.affiliation: Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Department of ENT, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
authors.affiliation: Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Subdepartment of Audiology, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akcadag
authors.affiliation: Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Department of ENT, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozcan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005839:Gentamicins; D011794:Quercetin; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9
keywords: Auditory brainstem response; Gentamicin; Quercetin