Abstract: AIM: To observe the protective effects of reduced glutathione hormone (GSH) against ototoxicity of amikacin in guinea pigs. METHODS: 56 adult guinea pigs were divided into four groups randomly: amikacin group, GSH group, combination group and sodium chloride group. Each group was intramuscularly injected with amikacin, GSH, amikacin +GSH and sodium chloride respectively. After the observation, the activities of reactive oxygen species(ROS), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured. The number of deeply stained cuticular plate was counted with surface preparation technique of the cochlea. The change of cell organ of outer hair cells was monitored by scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: The activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px were significantly decreased and the content of ROS was increased in amikacin group (P<0.05). However, GSH could significantly inhibit these changes among the animals in treating group. Outer hair cells of GSH group were arranged tidily in three rows and showed characteristic V-arranged stereocilia. Stereocilia of outer hair cells in amikacin group failed off markedly in a disarranged pattern and the number of deeply stained cuticular plate increased significantly. In combination group, the changes of the number of deeply stained cuticular plate showed significant difference as compared with those in amikacin group (P<0.01). In GSH group and combination group showed no significant difference. In amikacin group, the phenomenon of karyopyknosis appeared, the quantity of mitochondrion decreased and most of them had vacuolar degenerated. The cells of GSH group and sodium chloride group changed slightly. The mitochondrion in combination group was deeply stained and light swelling. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that co-administration of GSH and amikacin can attenuate the ototoxicity of amikacin.

Key words: reduced glutathione hormone, ototoxicity, amikacin