Dazoxiben-induced changes in the thromboxane/prostacyclin balance in the lateral cochlear wall of the guinea pig.

Dazoxiben, a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, was infused i.v. in a first group of guinea pigs. Saline was given to a second group of animals as controls. Subsequently, the lateral cochlear walls of each animal were prepared and analyzed for thromboxane (TXA) and prostacyclin (PGI) using radioimmunoassay. These studies showed that dazoxiben crosses the blood-labyrinth barrier and shifts the TXA2/PGI2 balance in favor of the latter. The effects demonstrated are discussed with respect to the relevance of prostanoids in cochlear physiology.