Metformin Protects Against Gentamicin-Induced Hair Cell Death In Vitro But Not Ototoxicity In Vivo

The study investigated the protective effects of metformin against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. In vitro experiments using murine cochlear explants showed that metformin effectively protected hair cells from gentamicin toxicity. However, in vivo experiments with guinea pigs revealed that metformin did not prevent gentamicin-induced hearing loss and, at higher dosages, even worsened auditory threshold shifts and caused adverse effects such as weight loss and premature death. These findings highlighted the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo results and emphasized the necessity for in vivo studies to evaluate protective agents identified through in vitro screenings.