Protection of Cochlear Hair Cells from Gentamicin Ototoxicity and Mechanisms of Mammalian Hair Cell Regeneration in Vitro

Abstract

Hair cell survival and recovery/regeneration following injury to the inner ear are crucial for hearing and balance. Hair cell damage is often elicited by amino-glycoside antibiotics. Our aim is to find molecules that can protect hair cells from gentamicin ototoxicity and to understand the mechanisms of hair cell recovery /regeneration following gentamicin treatment in organotypic cultures of mammalian inner ears. We have identified concanavalin A (Con A) as a molecule that protects hair cells from gentamicin in postnatal rat cochlear explant cultures. Experiments using Lyso-Tracker staining and gentamicin immunocytochemistry indicate that pre-incubation of the cultures with Con A blocks gentamicin uptake into hair cells. Thus Con A may have therapeutic value in prevention of aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.