Vestibular cytotoxicity in gentamicin-treated frogs: a preliminary report

The cytomorphic data derived from this study show that 4 doses of intraperitoneal gentamicin administered to the bullfrog caused a decline in the areal density of sensory hair cells of the posterior canal crista ampullaris. Also noted was an increase in the density of adjacent SPCs. Although speculative, the increase in SPC population could be a harbinger of regeneration of the vestibular hair cells as suggested by other investigators in different species. The significance of present observations will be helpful to initiate future studies related to recovery of SNCs in a similarly damaged frog ampullary organ. Through a standardized quantitative approach to the study of SNCs and SPCs of the crista organ, the vestibulo-toxicity of newly developed drugs can be assessed.