Objective: To evaluate the protection capacity of dexamethasone against the ototoxicity of cisplatin through the functional evaluations by brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) and morphological by optical microscopy.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1. Control: 06 animals received saline intraperitoneal (IP) 8ml/kg/day for four days; 2. CDDP+D15: 11 animals received dexamethasone 15mg/kg/ day via IP and 90minutes (min) after 8mg/kg/day of cisplatin via IP for four days; 3. CDDP+D20: 07 animals received 20mg/kg/day of dexamethasone via IP and 90min after 8mg/kg/day of cisplatin via IP for four days; 4. C+CDDP: 11 animals receive 8ml/kg/day of saline via IP and 90min after 8mg/kg/day of cisplatin via IP for four days.
Results: Based on the results of this study, dexamethasone at the dose of 15mg/kg/day was significantly protected against ototoxicity of cisplatin by means of the functional evaluation by BERA and morphological, through the preservation of vascular stria. There was no protection against systemic toxicity, evaluated through animal weight, with the use of corticosteroids.
Conclusion: Dexamethasone at a dose of 15mg/kg/day protected against ototoxicity by cisplatin in functional evaluation by BERA and morphological by optical microscopy, but did not protect against systemic toxicity.
Keywords: Ototoxicity; Cisplatin; Dexamethasone.