Functional and anatomic alterations in the gentamicin-damaged vestibular system in the guinea pig.

HYPOTHESIS The purpose of this study was to investigate the expected functional and morphologic effect of gentamicin on the vestibular system simultaneously by measurement of vestibular evoked potentials and electron microscopic evaluation. BACKGROUND Vestibular short-latency evoked potentials to linear acceleration have been shown to be a useful parameter of vestibular function. In gentamicin-treated animals, the morphologic damage has been well documented, although this has seldom been quantified. METHODS Fifteen guinea pigs were divided into three equal groups. Two groups received different dosages of intramuscular gentamicin for 3 weeks; the third group was the control group. Vestibular short-latency evoked potentials to linear acceleration pulses were measured. After the last gentamicin dose, the utricles were prepared for scanning and transmission electron microscopy. On scanning electron microscopy photographs, the surface area damage ratio of the utricles, a simple method of quantifying gross morphologic damage, was calculated. RESULTS The vestibular short-latency evoked potential of gentamicin-treated guinea pigs showed a slow-developing, damaging, dose-response effect on the function of the vestibular system (p = 0.01). Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed severe morphologic damage in the sensory hair cells of the utricle. The surface area damage ratio showed a dose-response relationship (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Functional and anatomic alterations in the gentamicin-damaged vestibular system in the guinea pig are related.