Is there a gender-related susceptibility for cisplatin ototoxicity?

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2015 Oct;272(10):2755-63. doi: 10.1007/s00405-014-3283-0. Epub 2014 Sep 12.

Abstract

Ototoxicity is a well-known side effect of cisplatin. Some genetic and non-genetic risk factors were described for cisplatin ototoxicity. Although there are some studies which point out a sex-related difference for cisplatin nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, sex-related differences for cisplatin ototoxicity have not been studied. The aim of this study is to reveal whether there is any gender-related difference for susceptibility to cisplatin ototoxicity in rats. Fourteen male, 14 female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups; a female control, a male control, a female cisplatin and a male cisplatin group. Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission and, Auditory Brainstem Response measurements were obtained. For the cisplatin groups 16 mg/kg of cisplatin was applied. On the 4th day audiological examinations were repeated. After killing, cochleae and brainstem tissues were evaluated by light and electron microscopy. The hearing of the female rat cisplatin group was found to have deteriorated more than the hearing of the male rat cisplatin group. Histopathological evaluation revealed more serious damage in the spiral ganglion and brainstem tissues of female rats. Hearing of female rats deteriorated more than the hearing of male rats upon application of cisplatin. This difference in hearing can be attributed to the more severe damage seen in neuronal tissues such as spiral ganglion cells and brainstem neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Cisplatin / toxicity*
  • Cochlea / drug effects*
  • Ear Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Ear Diseases / physiopathology
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / drug effects*
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / physiology
  • Female
  • Male
  • Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cisplatin