BACKGROUND: Kanamycin and subsequent furosemide administration was applied to the healthy guinea pigs to induce deafness.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of the deafened guinea pigs, 10 were further infused with anti-infection procedures (Group B) and the other 10 animals did not undergo anti-infection procedures (Group C). In Group B, the deafened animals were able to restore cochlear and middle ear functions following the anti-infection procedure. In Group C, all animals developed cochlear and middle ear infections.

RESULTS: Compared to the healthy guinea pigs, hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) of deafened animals (in Group B and Group C) were severely damaged. SGN density of deafened animals was significantly lower than that of healthy control animals in all ear turns except the basal turn. There was no significant difference between Group B and Group C in SGN density. The average optical density value of neurofilaments of deafened animals was also significantly decreased after the ototoxic drug administration. Notably, the density of the neurons in the cochlear nucleus region (CNR) of the brainstem were not significantly different between the healthy control guinea pigs and deafened animals.

CONCLUSIONS: Mimic cochlear implant surgery-induced cochlear infection caused no significant damage to the auditory pathway in ototoxic drug-induced deafened guinea pigs.

Keywords: Auditory Pathways, Cochlear Implants, Deafness, Guinea Pigs