Degeneration and Necrosis of Neurones in Eighth Cranial Nuclei Caused by Streptomycin

Abstract

Liquefaction necrosis of neurones, sometimes with dropping out of cells was found postmortem in the ventral cochlear nuclei in 5 patients who became partially or completely deaf while receiving large amts. of streptomycin (3 g./day intra-musc. and additional amts. intra-thecally in 4 patients) for 2-8 mos. for the treatment of tuberculosis. Similar changes were present in the inferior vestibular nuclei in 2 patients. Other cranial nerve nuclei were normal in all cases. Three dogs were given large doses of streptomycin (170 mg./kg./day intra-musc.) and developed marked weakness and incoordination, although no deafness was noted. One died on the 9th day with necrotizing renal arteriolitis and glomerulitis, and the other 2 were sacrificed on the 28th day. All 3 showed lesions in the ventral cochlear nuclei bilaterally, with liquefaction of neurones similar to that found in the clinical cases, but no apparent dropping out of cells. In the dog that died of renal disease, peculiar clumps of Nissl-like material were present in the cytoplasm of the cells of the ventral cochlear nuclei also.