The use of streptomycin to induce unilateral ablation of vestibular function in the rat: A preliminary report

The goal of our research is to develop a method of applying streptomycin to the middle ear so as to destroy vestibular function unilaterally while avoiding damage to auditory function. In this preliminary experiment, a total of 42 mg of streptomycin was infused continuously over a seven-day period into one middle ear cavity of seven rats, with the opposite ear serving as a control. Histologic study revealed a moderate to severe degree of vestibular neuroepithelial damage in all of the infused ears. However, significant damage also occurred in the basal turn of the cochlea in a majority of cases.