Differential gene expression profiles in salicylate ototoxicity of the mouse

Conclusion. This study demonstrated differential gene expression profiles in salicylate ototoxicity with oligonucleotide microarray. This study may also provide basic information on candidate genes associated with hearing loss and/or tinnitus or recovery after salicylate-induced cochlear dysfunction. Objectives. Salicylate ototoxicity is accompanied by temporary hearing loss and tinnitus. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the gene expression profiles in the mouse cochlea with salicylate ototoxicity using DNA microarray. Materials and methods. The subject mice were injected intraperitoneally with 400 mg/kg of sodium salicylate; an approximate 30 dB threshold shift that was observed by auditory brainstem response was achieved 3 h after an injection of sodium salicylate and the hearing threshold returned to within normal range at 3 days. Differential gene expression profiles at 3 h after salicylate injection in comparison to the normal cochlea were analyzed with DNA microarray technology. Results. No ultrastructural changes in the mice cochlea were observed by TEM at 3 h after salicylate injection. Microarray revealed that 87 genes were up-regulated twofold or more in the mouse cochlea with salicylate ototoxicity in comparison to the normal cochlea. Among these genes, increased expression levels of 30 functional genes were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.