ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of Ligustrazine (TMP) on the expression of caspase-3 and ABR threshold in guinea pig cochlea after gentamicin (GM) ototoxicity. Methods:A total of 80 guinea pigs were randomly divided into saline group, GM group, GM+TMP group and TMP group. The duration of treatment was lasted 10 d continuously in all groups. The dose was decided by their weight. The ABR threshold were measured before and after administration of 10 d. SABC immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of caspase-3 in the spiral ganglion,cochlea hair cells,and stria vascularis of guinea pigs. Results:(1) The average gray value in the spiral ganglion cells, stria vascularis and hair cells in GM group had significant difference with those in the same position of control group (P<0.05) .The average gray value in the spiral ganglion cells and hair cells in GM+TMP group had no difference with those in the same position of control group (P>0.05), but in stria vascularis (P<0.05) . Meanwhile the average gray value in spiral ganglion, hair cells, stria vascularis in TMP+GM group had significant difference with those in GM group (P<0.05) . (2) The ABR threshold had no significant differences before treatment (P>0.05) . After administration of 10 d, the ABR threshold of GM group was significantly changed (P<0.05) . The ABR thresholds in GM group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05) . The ABR threshold in TMP+GM group was lower than that in GM group (P<0.05) . Conclusion:TMP participates in preventing the process of cochlea injury caused by GM,through blocking the expression of caspase-3 in cochlea tissue of GM ototoxicosis probably,which achieve the protection of GM deafness eventually.