Acoustically evoked neurophysiological responses in guinea pigs' central nervous system after complete amikacin destruction of the organs of Corti

In guinea pigs treated with large doses of the aminoglycoside antibiotic amikacin (14 × 450 mg/kg, IM) and presenting with total loss of outer and inner hair cells, except for very few outer hair cells at the apex, a very short‐latency (0.3 ms), well‐synchronized, neural‐like response to acoustic click stimulation can be recorded from the cochlea (Aran et al., Acta Oto‐Laryngol. 1979, in press). This response, which is sensitive to anoxia and masking, appears as soon as the normal compound auditory nerve action potential has disappeared, before the end of the treatment and then remains absolutely constant in time (over a 10 months follow up period). This response is followed by various activities in the central nervous system which are recorded and compared to that observed in similar conditions in normal guinea pigs. [Work supported by INSERM grant No. 8‐ASR‐6.]