We have observed that pantothenic acid (PA) prevents deafness induced
by cisplatin (CP)in the guinea pig if both drugs are administered join
tly. When deafness was previously produced, recovery was sometimes obt
ained after the administration of PA; so, we studied the effects of PA
on cisplatian-induced ototoxia in guinea pigs, both as a prophylactic
agent in healthy animals, and as a therapeutic agent in animals previ
ously made deaf by the drug. To elucidate why PA protects the ear from
the toxic effects of CP, we used coenzyme A (CoA) instead of PA-since
PA is a component of Coh-to test the hypothesis that the action of PA
is due to CoA. The results were practically the same in both experien
ces, the compound action potential of the auditory nerve (CAP) was tes
ted and cochleas were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Our results suggest that the protective effect of PA takes place throu
gh CoA. Both substances had the same effect on CP ototoxicity, but CoA
appears to be much more active, since the dose tested here was much l
ower than that of PA.