Nitric oxide in guinea pig vestibular sensory cells following gentamicin exposure in vitro

Gentamicin-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in the vestibular end organs of the guinea pig was investigated using the new fluorescence indicator 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate for direct detection of NO. Utricular maculae and isolated vestibular sensory cells were examined to locate NO production sites. The fluorescence intensity of the sensory cells was augmented by stimulation with gentamicin. This increase in fluorescence was inhibited by the presence of the non-specific inhibitor for nitric oxide synthase, L-N(G)-nitroarginine methylester, and by the non-specific N-methyl-D-aspartic acid antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate. These findings indicate that NO may play an important role in the ototoxicity of aminoglycoside.