DOSE-DEPENDENT RESPONSE OF VESTIBULAR HAIR-CELLS OF GUINEA-PIGS FOLLOWING STREPTOMYCIN OTOTOXIATION

Although the involvement of apoptosis has been suggested in the loss o f vestibular hair cells due to aminoglycosides, dose-dependent effects of aminoglycosides have not been determined. We therefore examined do se-dependent effects of streptomycin on the degeneration of hair cells of guinea pig ampullar cristae using TUNEL stain and Hoechst nuclear stain. Streptomycin induced apoptosis of hair cells in a dose-dependen t manner. Even following high-dose applications, most of the affected cells showed apoptotic features. Apoptosis may therefore play a predom inant role in the deletion of vestibular hair cells affected by aminog lycosides.