Protective Effect of Memantine on Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity: An In Vitro Study

Hypothesis: Memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, is widely used to treat Alzheimer's disease and has been found to have potential neuroprotective effects. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of memantine against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Background: Cisplatin is a widely used anticancer drug for various cancers; however, its use is limited by its side effects, including ototoxicity. Several drugs have been developed to reduce cisplatin toxicity. In this study, we treated cisplatin-damaged cochlear hair cells with memantine and evaluated its protective effects. Method: House Ear Institute Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells and cochlear explants were treated with cisplatin or memantine. Cell viability, apoptotic patterns, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Bcl-2/caspase-3 activity, and cell numbers were measured to evaluate the anti-apoptotic and antioxidative effects of memantine. Result: Memantine treatment significantly improved cell viability and reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis in auditory cells. Bcl-2/ caspase-3 activity was also significantly increased, suggesting anti-apoptotic effects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that memantine protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in vitro, providing a potential new strategy for preventing hearing loss in patients undergoing cisplatin chemotherapy.