The effect of radiotherapy on gentamicin ototoxicity: an animal model

Patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) often present with serious bacterial infections requiring the use of antibiotic treatment. Gentamicin is a commonly used aminoglycoside antibiotic, whose ototoxicity remains a major problem in clinical use. The objective of this study was to determine whether radiation exposure can influence gentamicin-induced ototoxicity.

Prospective animal study.

Animal care facilities of the Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Sixteen guinea pigs received low-dose RT unilaterally for 4 weeks (total: 48 Gy). Animals then received low or high doses of gentamicin (40 mg/kg/d and 80 mg/kg/d) for 10 days. The ears were divided into 4 groups: gentamicin 40 mg, gentamicin 80 mg, gentamicin 40 mg + RT, and gentamicin 80 + RT. Auditory brainstem responses and distortion products otoacoustic emissions were assessed at baseline and before and after gentamicin treatment. Cochlear morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy were evaluated.

High-dose gentamicin caused significant auditory brainstem response threshold shifts (P = .020), with greater hearing loss in the irradiated ear (difference of 23.6 + 7.5 dB). All animals exposed to high-dose gentamicin had head tilts toward the radiated side. Cochlear morphology revealed the greatest hair cell damage in the gentamicin 80 + RT group followed by gentamicin 80.

Results suggest that radiation can exacerbate the ototoxicity of gentamicin at high doses.