Differential ablation of sensory receptors underlies ototoxin-induced shifts in auditory thresholds of the goldfish (Carassius auratus).

In recent years, fish models have become popular for investigations of ototoxic agents. However, the vast majority of such studies have focused on anatomical changes in lateral line hair cells after drug administration. Using the goldfish (Carassius auratus), we confirm that the acquisition of auditory evoked potentials offers a rapid and non-invasive method for quantifying ototoxin-induced changes in hearing sensitivity. Gentamicin (100 mg ml(-1)) was the drug of choice as it is a well-studied human ototoxin. Auditory threshold elevation was observed between 300 and 600 Hz and was accompanied by significant reductions in hair cell ciliary bundle densities in specific regions of the utricle and saccule. The correlations between structure and function suggest that differential susceptibility of sensory hair cells to acute gentamicin treatment underlies the frequency-specific elevation of auditory thresholds. We propose that fish auditory systems should be used alongside the lateral line, for the assessment of ototoxicity in new-developed drugs.