A probe for a hair cell comprises, as an active agent, at least one kind selected from staining compounds represented by the general formula (II): \n where R 11 and R 12 each independently represent one of a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylic acid ester group, a carboxylic acid amide group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonic acid ester group, a sulfonic acid amide group, a carboxylic acid salt, and a sulfonic acid salt; R 13 and R 14 each independently represent one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, and an aryl group, and R 15 , R 16 , R 17A , and R 17B each independently represent one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group; and X 2 - represents an anionic group. The staining compound fluoresces in a near-infrared area. The probe is used as a probe for a hair cell, such as for evaluating auditory toxicity of a chemical substance, for screening and/or evaluating a therapeutic drug and a preventive drug for hearing loss.
Probe for auditory hair cells