A Histochemical Study of the Effect of Streptomycin Sulfate on the Inner Ear of the Guinea Pig after Obliteration of the Endolymphatic Duct

Abstract

The effect of streptomycin sulfate (SM) on the sensory epithelia of the inner ear of guinea pigs were studied histochemically. The guinea pigs, in which the right endolymphatic duct were obliterated surgically, were injected with SM 250mg/kg ten times in one month. Succinate dehydrogenase staining was used in the histochemical study. The enzymic activity of the sensory cells in the surface specimens from the cristae ampullares, maculae utriculi, maculae sacculi and the organ of Corti were investigated light microscopically.
The study revealed that SM caused more remarkable damage on the vestibular sensory cells of the operated side compared with that of the opposite. The organ of Corti remained intact on both sides.
To explain these findings, we considered that SM might be accumulated in large amounts in the endolymphatic space.