Intraotic administration of gentamicin: A new method to study ototoxicity in the crista ampullaris of the bullfrog

A new method of local gentamicin administration was tested in the bullfrog inner ear to achieve ototoxic-induced hair cell destruction, Gelfoam pledgets soaked with known amounts of gentamicin were inserted into the perilymphatic cisterna of the bullfrog through a ventral surgical approach, A dose of 1.20 mg gentamicin, consistent with a perilymphatic concentration of 65 mu g/ml, resulted in the desired ototoxic-induced hair cell damage, that is, complete hair cell destruction with minimal disruption of other components of the sensory epithelium, This study demonstrates that this is a useful and simple method to investigate the process of vestibular ototoxicity and hair cell regeneration, including aspects of hair cell destruction and repair.