The effects of lycopene on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity

To investigate the potential preventive effect of lycopene in cisplatin-related ototoxicity. Thirty-five healthy 3–3.5-month adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated as follows: Group 1 (n = 10), received no cisplatin or lycopene. Both group 2 (n = 10) and; Group 3 (n = 15) received a single dose of 12 mg/kg cisplatin intraperitoneally. Lycopene was administered via gavage feeding in group 2 for 15 days. Prior to any medication administration, the baseline distortion product emissions were obtained in three groups. The animals were tested again at 15th day. The resulting distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were evaluated at 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 kHz. On day 0, prior to any medications, the initial DPOAEs measurement results gave similar values in the three groups (p > 0.05). In group 2 and 3, statistically significant differences were recorded for all frequencies between day 0 and day 15 values (p < 0.05). Lycopene group demonstrated significantly higher DP-grams except for 1.5 kHz frequency when compared to cisplatin group (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in basal and mid turn external ciliated cells number (p < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in apical turn between three groups (p > 0.05). Stria vascularis changes were statistically significant between the groups, and the median score for stria vascularis injury was significantly greater in group 3 than in group 2 (p < 0.05). The median scores for spiral ganglion cells changes were significantly greater in group 3 than in group 2 (p < 0.05). The analyses of the results revealed statistically significant differences between two groups (p < 0.05), suggesting lycopene’s possible protective effect against cisplatin ototoxicity. The present study revealed that administration of lycopene may demonstrate a protective role against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats.