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.