ABSTRACT
The mechanism of salicylate ototoxicity appears to be multifactorial and decreased cochlear blood flow seems to play an important role. The purpose of the study was to assess an effect of allpurinol, a blocker of free oxygen radicals(FORs) formation, on salicylate ototxicity in guinea pig. ABR threshold shifts were observed in group 1, treated with salicylate(300mg/kg, IM) and group 2, pretreated with allopurinol(50mg/kg, PO, two times) before injection of salicylate(300mg/kg, IM). In group 1, significant ABR threshold shift was measured in 1 hour(p<0.05) and maximum threshold shift was noted in 2-3 hours, with complete recovery in 6 hours, after injection of salicylate. In group 2, there was a little ABR threshold shift through 6 hours after injection of salicylate, except average 5dB shift in 4 hours. ABR threshold shift was significantly greater in group 1 than in group 2, after injection of salicylate(p<0.05). With above result, allopurinol, a blocker of FORs formation, could attenuated the hearing loss after the administration of salicylate in guinea pig, and FORs might play a role in salicylateinduced hearing loss.