PHARMACOKINETICS OF GENTAMICIN IN THE SENSORY HAIR-CELLS OF THE ORGANOF CORTI - RAPID UPTAKE AND LONG-TERM PERSISTENCE

Confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunofluorescence were used to detect gentamicin at the single cell level in the sensory cells of th e guinea-pig hearing organ after a chronic systemic treatment. Gentami cin uptake by the hair cells precedes largely the manifestation of hea ring impairment We demonstrate that for a non-ototoxic treatment the c aptured gentamicin is eliminated in two phases : one rapid and one slo w with approximate half-lifes of 2 days and 5-6 months, respectively. These novel observations should be of primary importance for new ratio nal approaches to both the mechanism of ototoxicity and therapeutic st rategies for the treatment of infectious diseases requiring the aminog lycoside antibiotics.