Assessment of the potential ototoxicity of high-dose celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, in rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the potential ototoxicity of high-dose celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor.

Study design: Prospective animal study.

Setting: Laboratory.

Methods: Twenty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups for hearing and tinnitus tests, respectively. The auditory brain-stem response (ABR) and the gap prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (GPIAS) were used as indicators of hearing loss and tinnitus, respectively, and were measured before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after administration of celecoxib (2 g/kg) via gavage.

Results: ABR threshold and wave III latencies did not increase significantly at any frequency following celecoxib administration, at any time point (P > .05). GPIAS remained below 30% after celecoxib, from a baseline of 20.03% ± 3.62%; no change was significant.

Conclusion: High-dose celecoxib (2 g/kg), a selective COX-2 inhibitor, did not cause hearing loss or tinnitus in Sprague Dawley rats within 48 hours of administration. Further studies are needed to explore the roles played by COX-related mechanisms when nonselective COX inhibitors induce ototoxicity.

Keywords: auditory brain-stem response (ABR); celecoxib; cyclooxygenase; hearing loss; ototoxicity; tinnitus.