The influence of pigmentation of rats and guinea-pigs on the ototoxicity of kanamycin and neomycin.

Following the finding that melanin pigment played a role in the accumulation of ototoxic drugs in the inner ear, an investigation was made of the possible influence of the pigmentation of animals on their susceptibility to the ototoxic effects of drugs. Hearing acuity was assessed by measurement of acoustic startle reaction. Preliminary experiments suggested that pigmented animals might be more likely to suffer hearing impairment following ototoxic drug administration. However, in a controlled study using rats treated with kanamycin, it was not possible to confirm this and albino animals appeared no less vulnerable than pigmented animals to kanamycin-induced deafness.