Neurotoxicity and Ototoxicity of Cobalt
LI Peng
DING Dalian
ZENG Xiangli
Richard Salvi
Jerome A Roth
Abstract：Cobalt is an important essential element that is required for the synthesis and functional activity of vitamin B12. Therefore, cobalt is necessary for life. However, if intracellular concentrations of cobalt are excessive due to occupation?al exposure, dietary intake, or endogenous exposure from cobalt-chromium implants, it can also lead to a severe disorder, called metallosis characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, nervous tinnitus, visual impairment, cognitive impairment, pe?ripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, thyroid problems, skin rashes, etc. Among these toxicities by cobalt, senso?ry deafness and optic atrophy are the most noticeable symptoms. The toxic mechanisms of cobalt mainly involve oxidative stress, hypoxic injury and mitochondrial-induced apoptosis. Therefore, animal models of cobalt intoxication are applicable to research examining an imbalance in oxidation/antioxidation equilibrium, intracellular hypoxia, and mitochondria initiated apoptotic pathways, especially in the auditory, vision and nervous systems.
Keywords：CobaltOtotoxicityNeurotoxicity
Publication Date：2015-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 57-63 )