Early morphological and chemical changes induced by cisplatin in the guinea pig organ of Corti

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology 1986-12, Vol.100 (12), p.1375-1383
• Main Authors: Comis, Spiro D., Rhys-Evans, Peter H., Osborne, Michel P., Pickles, James O., Jeffries, David J. R., Pearse, Henry A. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Cilia - drug effects; Cisplatin - toxicity; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Guinea Pigs; Hair Cells, Auditory - drug effects; Hair Cells, Auditory - metabolism; Hair Cells, Auditory - ultrastructure; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner - drug effects; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner - ultrastructure; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215100101161

Guinea pigs were treated with a single dose of Cisplatin (5 mg IP). After 2–4 days the cochleas were prepared for morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis by X-ray dispersive microanalysis. Following Cisplatin, the bundles of stereocilia on the hair cells were found to be rough, disarrayed, fused, and finally absorbed. Significant increases were found in the levels of calcium, sulphur, and phosporus in the abnormal hair cells. It is suggested that the high calcium levels might be due to the inhibition of enzymes which normally keep cytoplasmic calcium low, and that some of the changes in the stereocilia might be secondary to this.