Oral Ethanol Potentiates the Loss of Outer Hair Cells in Cisplatin-Exposed Rats
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of oral ethanol on cisplatin ototoxicity. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Twenty-seven-week-old, female Fisher 344 rats were divided into 4 experimental groups. The animals were administered per os (PO) saline (group 1), PO ethanol (group 2), PO saline with intraperitoneal (IP) cisplatin (group 3), or PO ethanol with IP cisplatin (group 4). After 3 days, scanning electron microscopy and counts of outer auditory hair cells were performed. RESULTS: A 2-fold increase in outer hair cell loss was obtained in the basal cochlear turn of rats receiving concomitant cisplatin and ethanol compared with animals receiving cisplatin and saline. No hair cell loss was observed in the middle cochlear turn of any experimental group. CONCLUSION: Our findings support potentiation of ototoxicity when cisplatin is combined with oral ethanol. SIGNIFICANCE: Contraindications for alcohol use in cancer patients receiving cisplatin are implicated.