Gentamicin ototoxicity in otoconia: quantitative electron probe X-ray microanalysis.

Chronic gentamicin ototoxicity was evaluated in the otolithic membrane of adult OF1 mice at the otoconial layer of the saccule and utricle by quantitative electron probe X-ray microanalysis of Ca and K. The otolithic membranes were plunge-frozen and freeze-dried. The analysis was carried out with an energy dispersive detector using the peak-to-back-ground ratio method and different inorganic salts of Ca and K as standards to calibrate the microprobe. Ca and K in the otoconia are related via a linear function in both the saccule and the utricle. This association is not maintained after exposure to gentamicin, which suggests that this aminoglycoside antibiotic interferes with the Ca-K equilibrium in the otoconia. A dose of 200 mg/kg gentamicin twice a day for 5 days did not affect Ca in the mineral phase of the otoconia, but did increase K in both saccular (p < 0.05) and utricular (p < 0.01) otoconia. These increases in K may reflect a modification in the composition of the endolymph, resulting from cellular damage at the plasma membrane.