Partial hearing loss in the macaque following the co-administration of kanamycin and ethacrynic acid

Abstract

Co-administration of kanamycin (KA) with the loop diuretic ethacrynic acid (EA) rapidly produces a profound hearing loss in the cat while maintaining normal renal function [Xu et al., Hear, Res. 70, 205-215 (1993)]. In the present paper we have applied this deafening procedure to the old world monkey Macaca fascicularis (macaque). Following the co-administration of KA and EA, the hearing loss in the macaque developed far slower than we observed in the cat. Moreover, unlike the cat, there was evidence of a partial recovery in the animal's hearing, resulting in a bilaterally symmetrical high frequency hearing loss. The extent of this hearing loss was dependent on the dose of the EA administere..