Evaluation of cisplatin ototoxicity in a rat animal model

The ototoxic effects of cisplatin were evaluated by otoacoustic emissions and evoked auditory responses. A transient otoacoustic emissions protocol indicated no significant ototoxic effects in rats treated intravenously with 7.5 mg/kg/week for 2-weeks. A chronic 6-week treatment (2.5 mg/kg/week) monitored by 2F1-F2 distortion product emissions presented significant SNR alterations in a narrow range of frequencies (5.04-5.66 kHz). An acute treatment of 15 mg/kg, using slow 30-min intraperitoneal infusion, presented the highest DP and ABR alterations. The SNR at the 2F1-F2 frequencies 6.34, 7.13, and 7.56 kHz was found significantly decreased, and ABR latency measurements from 8-kHz burst stimuli verified these alterations.