Recent advances in understanding aminoglycoside ototoxicity and its prevention

Studies over the last decade have left little doubt that reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in the cellular events leading to aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. The evidence ranges from the demonstration of aminoglycoside-mediated ROS formation in vitro to the prevention of oxotoxicity by antioxidants in guinea pig in vivo. Here we review a hypothesis of the mechanism of toxicity, discuss possible causes underlying the gradient in base-to-apex sensitivity of outer hair cells, and present recent results on the adult mouse as a new animal model of aminoglycoside ototoxicity and its prevention. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.