Activation of apoptotic pathways in the absence of cell death in an inner-ear immortomouse cell line

► The inner-ear immortomouse cell line (HEI-OC1) efficiently takes up gentamicin. ► Aminoglycoside antibiotics activate caspase-dependent cell death pathways. ► Aminoglycoside antibiotics do not result in HEI-OC1 cell death. ► Cisplatin treatment leads to HEI-OC1 cell death. ► Cellular senescence is not observed in HEI-OC1 cells after gentamicin treatment.