Ligustrazine facilitates hair cell regeneration in the cochlea following gentamicin ototoxicity

摘要

BACKGROUND:Ligustrazine(tetramethylpyrazine) decreases ototoxicity induced by gentamicin and facilitates hair cell regeneration and repair,but the precise mechanisms remain controversial.OBJECTIVE:To explore the protective effects of ligustrazine on gentamicin ototoxicity by determining heat shock protein 70 mRNA and protein expression in the cochlear stria vascularis of guinea pigs at different time points.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized,controlled study was performed at the Laboratory of Physiology,Shenyang Medical College of China in 2007.MATERIALS:Ligustrazine parenteral solution(Qiqihar Pharmaceutical Factory,China) and gentamicin sulfate(Shenyang First Pharmaceutical Factory,China) were used in this experiment.METHODS:White guinea pigs with red eyes were randomly intraperitoneally administered gentamicin sulfate injection + saline,gentamicin sulfate injection + ligustrazine,and ligustrazine + saline,respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Auditory brainstem response threshold was measured.Immunohistochemistry,in situ hybridization,and image analyzing techniques were utilized to determine heat shock protein 70 mRNA and protein expression in cochlear stria vascularis of guinea pigs.RESULTS:Following gentamicin ototoxicity,the auditory brainstem response threshold increased,peaked on day 3,and then decreased with increased time after drug withdrawal.The auditory brainstem response threshold was significantly diminished following ligustrazine intervention,but recovered to normal on day 30(P > 0.05).Heat shock protein 70 expression also increased,peaked on day 3,and then decreased in the cochlear stria vascularis of guinea pigs following gentamicin ototoxicity.Ligustrazine intervention resulted in decreased heat shock protein 70 expression in the cochlear stria vascularis,which recovered to normal on day 14.Heat shock protein 70 mRNA expression increased in the cochlear stria vascularis following gentamicin ototoxicity,but ligustrazine intervention resulted in decreased levels.CONCLUSION:Ligustrazine significantly ameliorated gentamicin ototoxicity by reducing heat shock protein 70 mRNA and protein expression in the cochlear stria vascularis.