Figure 5From: Simvastatin protects auditory hair cells from gentamicin-induced toxicity and activates Akt signaling in vitroA simplified model of signal transduction in gentamicin-induced hair cell damage and the mechanisms of statin-mediated protection. The mode of initial interaction between the HC and gentamicin is not known. It may include a receptor, and/or entry of gentamicin into the cell followed by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We propose that statins act by enhancing Akt activiation and decrease the isoprenylation of small G proteins, such as Ras and Rho/Rac/Cdc42.Back to article page