RESUMO
We have observed the protective effects of indocin (IND), a potent inhibitor of pro-sglandins (PGs), on ototoxicity induced by furosemide (FU) using the synchronous recording technique of endocochlear potential (EP) and auditory action potential(AP) in guinea pigs. The FU group were found to have a mean decrease in EP of 65.1?5.6mV and AP amplitude 91.5?10.2%. In contrast, the animals in the FU+IND group had a much smaller reduction of EP(17.5 ?3.8mV) and AP amplitude(31.1?4.7%). The rate of return in EP and AP was much faster in the FU+IND group as compared with the other group. Our findings suggest that the ototoxicity of FU may be related to the mediation of PGs in the inner ear target tissues. IND can interrupt an increase in endogenous PGs in cochlear tissues triggered by FU injection by inhibiting the biological synthesis of PGs, thus effectively diminishing the ototoxicity induced by FU.