Abstract:ObjectiveTo introduce a method for detection of lead concentration in guinea pig cochlea.Methods10 adult guinea pigs with normal hearing were randomly divided into 2 groups (control and experimental group, n=5). They were fed 0 mmol/L or 2 mmol/L lead acetate water for one month, respectively. The blood and cochlear basal membrane as well as spiral ligament were harvested, and the cochlear tissues were dissolved in 65% to 68% nitric acid solution. After that, the lead concentrations of dissolved cochlear tissue and blood were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.ResultsThe blood lead concentrations of the control and the experimental groups were （5.53±1.25）μg/dL and （73.26±12.06）μg/dL respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The cochlear lead concentrations of both groups were （29.31±11.70）μg/g and （25.87±14.60）μg/g respectively, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05).ConclusionDetection of cochlear lead concentration by absorption spectrophotometry is a simple and useful quantitative assessment of lead concentration in cochlea.