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Ototoxic drugs: difference in sensitivity between mice and guinea pigs
A L Poirrier1, P Van den Ackerveken, T S Kim
1Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium. alpoirrier@student.ulg.ac.be
Toxicology Letters
|December 18, 2009
Summary
Mice are not suitable models for studying ototoxic drug-induced hearing loss, unlike guinea pigs. This research highlights the limitations of using mice for ototoxicity investigations, impacting future research on hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Experimental animal models are crucial for understanding neurosensory deafness mechanisms and developing treatments.
- Mice offer advantages as model organisms due to extensive genetic and molecular resources.
- The efficacy of the mouse model for ototoxicity requires direct comparison with established models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an adult mouse model for ototoxic drug-induced hearing loss.
- To compare the ototoxicity of kanamycin and cisplatin in adult mice versus guinea pigs.
- To evaluate the suitability of mice as a model for ototoxicity research.
Main Methods:
- Systemic administration of ototoxic drugs (kanamycin or cisplatin) to mice (n=114) and guinea pigs (n=35).
- Assessment of hearing function using auditory brainstem responses (ABR).
- Histological analysis of hair cell and neuronal loss correlated with auditory function.
Main Results:
- Guinea pigs exhibited significant auditory threshold shifts within two weeks of ototoxic treatment.
- Mice showed no significant hearing impairment despite ototoxic drug administration.
- Hair cell and neuronal loss correlated with hearing function in both species, but the effect was less pronounced in mice.
Conclusions:
- The adult mouse is not a suitable model for studying ototoxic drug-induced hearing loss.
- Guinea pigs demonstrate a more robust and measurable response to ototoxic agents, making them a better model.
- Researchers should carefully consider model selection for ototoxicity studies to ensure reliable and translatable results.
