Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity
Published on: March 16, 2018
Cisplatin-induced toxicity decreases the mouse vestibulo-ocular reflex
Yasumitsu Takimoto1, Takao Imai2, Makoto Kondo3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Suita Municipal Hospital, 2-13-20 Katayama-cho, Suita City, Osaka 564-0082, Japan.
Cisplatin (a chemotherapy drug) can damage the inner ear, causing vestibulotoxicity. This study found that a 16mg/kg dose in mice impaired vestibular function, measured by the vestibulo-ocular reflex.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cisplatin is a vital chemotherapy for solid tumors.
- Cisplatin's known side effect is vestibulotoxicity.
- Previous research on cisplatin-induced vestibulotoxicity used various animal models, but not mice in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cisplatin-induced vestibulotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.
- To establish a mouse model for studying cisplatin's effects on vestibular function.
Main Methods:
- Assessed vestibular function by recording the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during horizontal sinusoidal rotations (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 Hz).
- Utilized a high-resolution, high-frequency digital infrared camera with eye-tracking algorithms.
- Administered cisplatin at 8mg/kg and 16mg/kg doses, comparing to a vehicle control group.
Main Results:
- A cisplatin dose of 16mg/kg significantly decreased VOR gain at 2.5 Hz compared to controls.
- The 8mg/kg dose did not affect VOR gain.
- No significant changes in optokinetic nystagmus were observed, indicating preserved visual and oculomotor functions.
Conclusions:
- Cisplatin at 16mg/kg induces vestibular dysfunction in C57BL/6J mice.
- This mouse model is suitable for further research into cisplatin-induced vestibulotoxicity and potential treatments.
