RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a mice model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, and to investigate the effect of cisplatin on apoptosis of spiral ganglion cell and expression of caspase-3 in mouse cochlea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling method (TUNEL) was used to monitor the apoptosis of spiral ganglion cell. Envision method of immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of caspase-3 in cochlea. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured to observe the change of hearing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The weight and hearing of mice in different dose of cisplatin groups were declined significantly as compared with those of control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the TUNEL positive cell number and expression of caspase-3 were greater remarkably with the more cisplatin injected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A mouse model of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity can be established. Cisplatin can lead to the apoptosis of spiral ganglion cells, and caspase-3 has participated in this apoptosis process, which approves further that apoptosis might be one of the mechanisms of cisplatin ototoxicity.</p>