Direct round window application of gentamicin with varying delivery vehicles: a comparison of ototoxicity.

Objective: To evaluate patterns of ototoxic damage sustained from gentamicin applied directly to the round window in varying delivery vehicles.

Setting: The search for a reliable method of drug delivery to the inner ear continues. Vehicles such as Gelfoam, hyaluronic acid, and fibrin may allow for a more reproducible pattern of ototoxic damage.

Microtubule cold stability in supporting cells of the gerbil auditory sensory epithelium: correlation with tubulin post-translational modifications.

Sensory cells in the organ of Corti exhibit loose microtubule networks enriched in tyrosinated tubulin, whereas supporting cells have bundled microtubules containing post-translationally modified tubulin. The tubulin isoform distribution suggests that the microtubules in sensory cells are dynamic and those in supporting cells are stable. To test this, microtubule resistance to cold-induced depolymerization was examined by using immunocytochemical methods and antibodies to post-translationally modified tubulins.