title: Protective effect of Pycnogenol on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pycnogenol®, which is French maritime pine bark extract, is a potent antioxidant. It is used in medical conditions caused by oxidative stress. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II) is an antineoplastic agent. However, its serious side effects such as ototoxicity limit its usage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Antioxidants can be used to prevent ototoxicity. We investigated the effect of Pycnogenol®on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly assigned to four groups of five. Distortion product-evoked otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) test was performed for each rat. The experimental groups were as follows: Control Group, Pycnogenol®Group: 10 mg/kg Pycnogenol®intraperitoneally for 7 days, Cisplatin Group: intraperitoneally 15 mg/kg single injection of cisplatin on the fifth day, Cisplatin + Pycnogenol®Group: intraperitoneally 10 mg/kg Pycnogenol®treatment for 7 days, additionally on the fifth day, 15 mg/kg single injection of cisplatin was given. On the eighth day, DPOAE was re-performed and rats were sacrificed. Apoptosis was evaluated histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean percentage of apoptotic cells was 1.5, 3, 30 and 11% in organ of Corti and 2, 2, 40, 15% in spiral ganglion neurons in Control Group, Pycnogenol®Group, Cisplatin Group and Cisplatin + Pycnogenol®Group, respectively. Cisplatin Group and Cisplatin + Pycnogenol®Group were significantly different when compared to Control Group histopathologically both in organ of Corti and spiral ganglion neuron (p <0.001, p = 0.019, p = 0.001, p = 0.015). DPOAE results showed that Cisplatin + Pycnogenol®Group was significantly different when compared to Cisplatin Group at 3, 6 and 8 kHz (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pycnogenol protected against cisplatin ototoxicity. Also, pycnogenol is not ototoxic.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eryilmaz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuket
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eliyatkin
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Basal
authors.affiliation: d Department of Biostatistics, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurt Omurlu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ceren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunel
authors.affiliation: e Department of Basic Oncology, School of Medicine , Dokuz Eylul University , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty , Adnan Menderes University , Aydın , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000187:drug effects; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051381:Rats; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Antineoplastics; antioxidants; cochlear apoptosis