Scientists studying cell death have recently made remarkable discoveries that may someday make prevention of hair cell death possible. That is, the cell spends energy and makes molecules that are specifically for the purpose of destroying the cell. Many cell-suicide molecules have been identified, and researchers continue to uncover new ones. In addition, drugs are being developed that can interfere with cell-suicide molecules. One family of cell suicide molecules is a group of proteins called caspases.
Caspases are proteases, which means they digest proteins.
Once activated, caspases proceed to destroy proteins that are necessary for cell survival. So caspases actually carry out the execution of the cell. The antibiotic gentamicin kills hair cells. When hair cells are cultured and exposed to gentamicin in the culture dish, they commit suicide. It remains to be seen whether inhibitors of caspases can prevent hair cell suicide in the living animal.