Evaluation of the neurotoxicity of DMSO infused into the carotid artery of rat

Introduction: Despite the explanations put forth in many studies regarding histopathological evidence of the inflammatory stage related with the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the vessel wall and its lumen, there has been no research to evaluate its neural toxicity when it is infused via the intracarotid route. This study was designed to evaluate the possible neurotoxic effects of DMSO on the closer and distant brain tissue and carotid artery when it was slowly infused into the internal carotid arteries of the rats. Methods: The right common carotid artery bifurcation was exposed through a midline neck incision, and then except those of the control group animals (n = 5), the experimental material (normal saline, n = 5 or anhydrous DMSO, n = 10) was infused into the internal carotid artery of the Wistar albino rats. After the experimental materials were administered intra-arterially, brain tissues were harvested for histopathological and biochemical studies at 72 h for investigation of the acute stage changes and on 10th day for investigation of the chronic stage changes. Internal carotid arteries of both sides were also removed for histopathological evaluation. During sacrification of the rats, whole body blood of them are collected for biochemical evaluation. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding comparison of the mean values of the hippocampal neuronal cell counts and the carotid artery diameters in both acute and chronic stages. Also, mean values of the lipid peroxidation levels of harvested brain tissues and serums of the collected bloods were similar in control, saline and DMSO groups. Conclusion: This experimental study suggested that DMSO has no toxic effect on the neural and arterial tissues of rats when it is slowly infused into the carotid artery. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.