» Articles » PMID: 23619994

Gentamicin-induced Bilateral Vestibulopathy in Rabbits: Vestibular Dysfunction and Histopathology

Overview
Journal Laryngoscope
Date 2013 Apr 27
PMID 23619994
Citations 4
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) is a mostly persistent and disabling disorder causing dizziness, oscillopsia, and imbalance during locomotion. The animal model is a prerequisite for experimental investigation on prevention and treatment of this disorder. The aim of this study was to determine the vestibular dysfunction and histopathology in rabbits with gentamicin-induced BV.

Study Design: Prospective animal study in rabbits.

Methods: We performed intratympanic gentamicin (ITGM) injections in 12 Lionhead rabbits. The injection was applied to each ear with a 3-day interval. The control group received injections of 0.9% normal saline. The animals were subjected to sinusoidal harmonic accelerations and open field tests for evaluation of the vestibular function before and after the procedures. We also determined histologic changes in the vestibular labyrinth 30 days after the first injection.

Results: One day after unilateral ITGM injection, the rabbits mostly showed ipsiversive head tilt, contralesional spontaneous nystagmus, ipsiversive circling behavior, and decreased gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during ipsiversive rotation. The second injection to the contralateral ear improved the head tilt but induced marked reduction in the activities and the VOR gains in both directions. These changes persisted until the histologic study confirmed the loss of the hair and supporting cells, diminished nerve fibers, and thinning of the sensory epithelium of the cristae ampullaris and otolith organs in the ITGM group 1 month later.

Conclusions: ITGM injection securely induced BV in rabbits without side effects such as nephrotoxicity. This rabbit model may be utilized for experiments on the prevention and treatment of BV.

Citing Articles

Progress in protecting vestibular hair cells.

Jiang L, Zheng Z, He Y Arch Toxicol. 2021; 95(8):2613-2623.

PMID: 33983457 PMC: 8298329. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03067-3.


Protective Effects of Deferoxamine on Vestibulotoxicity in Gentamicin-Induced Bilateral Vestibulopathy Rat Model.

Kim H, Lee J, Kim J Front Neurol. 2021; 12:650752.

PMID: 33841317 PMC: 8024619. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.650752.


Electrophysiological and inner ear MRI findings in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy.

Eliezer M, Hautefort C, Van Nechel C, Duquesne U, Guichard J, Herman P Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020; 277(5):1305-1314.

PMID: 32036409 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-05829-8.


Histopathologic Changes of the Inner ear in Rhesus Monkeys After Intratympanic Gentamicin Injection and Vestibular Prosthesis Electrode Array Implantation.

Sun D, Lehar M, Dai C, Swarthout L, Lauer A, Carey J J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2015; 16(3):373-87.

PMID: 25790951 PMC: 4417088. DOI: 10.1007/s10162-015-0515-y.