Protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in guinea pigs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in guinea pigs.

METHODS

Thirty-nine guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group (control group) received physiologic saline by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for 5 days. The second group (cisplatin group) was treated with cisplatin (2 mg/kg per day, i.p. injection) for 5 days. The third group (SM group) was given SM (8 g/kg per day, i.p. injection) for 2 days and then was given SM (8 g/kg per day, i.p. injection) and cisplatin (2 mg/kg per day, i.p. injection) for 5 days. Auditory brain stem response (ABR) and cochlea blood flow measurement were used to evaluate cochlea function. The structures of cochlea were observed by light microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and immunohistochemical examination.

RESULTS

Cisplatin could cause severe acoustic damages including significant elevation of ABR threshold, substantial losses of outer hair cells and inner hair cells, and severe damage on the stria vascularis and spiral ganglion cells (SGCs). Although in SM group, the increased tendency of threshold was milder than that in cisplatin group. The damages in cochlea and stria vascularis were also less severe than those in cisplatin group. The expression of induced nitric oxide synthase in the cochlea and SGC in SM group was lower than that in cisplatin group.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvia miltiorrhiza can significantly reduce the cisplatin-induced side effects.