netilmicin and Labyrinth-Diseases

The ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity of netilmicin were compared with those of dibekacin, kanamycin and amikacin using rabbits. Groups of 5 rabbits each were given doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg of either one of the four drugs for 30 days, and 10 days after the last injection, all animals were prepared for histopathological studies. Results show the least ototoxicity of netilmicin in comparison to the other three antibiotics. It has been concluded that the low ototoxicity of netilmicin is due not to its lack of accumulation in the perilymph but to its low toxicity to the hair cells.

Topics: Amikacin; Aminoglycosides; Animals; Dibekacin; Gentamicins; Hair Cells, Auditory; Kanamycin; Kidney; Labyrinth Diseases; Nerve Degeneration; Netilmicin; Rabbits

The cochleo- and vestibulotoxicity of dibekacin and netilmicin were compared in a guinea pig model. Both aminoglycosides were administered subcutaneously for 21 days at the dose level of 150 mg/kg/day. Control animals were injected with saline. Dibekacin-treated animals showed a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the thresholds of the Preyer pinna reflex and the VIIIth nerve compound action potential in response to sound click stimulation. Moreover, a deterioration of the electrophysiologic auditory response and an almost complete suppression of the post-rotatory nystagmus were detected. In contrast, netilmicin did not induce any significant change in auditory and vestibular functions as compared to the control group. Our results demonstrated that netilmicin was devoid of ototoxicity in the guinea pig, while dibekacin provoked mild cochlear and severe vestibulotoxicity.

Topics: Action Potentials; Animals; Auditory Threshold; Cochlea; Dibekacin; Evoked Potentials, Auditory; Female; Gentamicins; Guinea Pigs; Kanamycin; Labyrinth Diseases; Male; Netilmicin; Nystagmus, Pathologic