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International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research
2013, Vol.3, No.6, 23
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26
et al., 2003). Potential veterinary applications for
DMSO in CNS disorders include intervertebral disc
disease in dogs (Lee, 1983), brain and spinal cord
trauma in horses (Mayhew and Mackay, 1982; Reed,
1983). Other possible applications of DMSO are the
prevention or treatment of post traumatic myocarditis
or the myocardial infarctions and consequent
arrhythmias that occur secondary to gastric dilatation
and torsion in dogs (Finney et al., 1967).
Dimethyl sulfoxide has been tried in human patients
to treat various rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis (Rosenbaum et al., 1965; Zuckner et al., 1967;
Gorog and Kovacs, 1975; Jimenez and Wilkens, 1982;
Rosenstein, 1999), renal amyloidosis (Gruys et al.,
1981; Jimenez and Wilkens, 1982; Scheinberg et al.,
1984; Santos et al., 2003) and scleroderma (Scherbel
et al., 1967; Fleischmajer, 1975; Jimenez and Wilkens,
1982; Scherbel, 1983). DMSO’s anticholinesterase
activity may help in the treatment of auto immune
disorders like myasthenia gravis in which
immunologic attack is directed at acetylcholine
receptors at neuromuscular junctions (Pestronk and
Drachman, 1980).
Intractable pain such as post amputation phantom pain
(Rosenbaum et al., 1965), post thoracotomy incisional
pain (Penrod et al., 1967), headaches (Blumenthal and
Fuchs, 1967) and other painful conditions of various
etiologies (Asen, 1967; Blumenthal and Fuchs,
1967; Dubinsky and Skager, 1975; Brown, 1982;
Douglass and Walker, 1983) that could not be
alleviated by any therapy or could only be alleviated
by narcotic analgesia have responded to topical
application of DMSO.
DMSO has been classified as a “maturational agent”
in some neoplastic cell lines (Borenfreund et al., 1975;
Stewart et al., 1975; Patel and Lodish, 1984;
Spremulli and Dexter, 1984). DMSO is reported to
potentiate cyclophosphamide (Garrido and Lagos,
1975; Warren et al., 1983) and to be effective in a
“cytostatic complex” with vinblastin (Setala, 1983).
3.6 Toxicity of dimethyl sulfoxide
Dimethyl sulfoxide is considered to have a low
toxicity. Median lethal dose (LD-50) of DMSO
administered topically, orally or parenterally to
laboratory animals are high (Smith et al., 1967; and
Rubin, 1975). The therapeutic intravenous dose is
about 1.0 g/kg in 10%~45% solution administered
slowly in humans (Waller et al., 1983), Cats (Hoerlein
et al., 1983), dogs (De la Torre et al., 1975; Rucker et
al., 1983) and horses (Mayhew and Mackay, 1982;
Reed, 1983). With lethal doses of DMSO, death is
usually preceded by prostration, convulsions, dyspnea
or tachypnea, hypotension, pulmonary edema and
respiratory arrest (Caujolle et al., 1967; Smith et al.,
1967; Santos et al., 2003).
Skin sensitivity to topical application of DMSO
usually is greater with higher concentrations of
DMSO (70%~100%), but 10% DMSO can also cause
irritation (Sulzberger et al., 1967; Rubin, 1975).
Ocular toxicity due to DMSO has been reported
(Rubin and Barnett, 1967; Harter, 1983). In rabbits,
dogs and swine, the characteristic changes were
altered lucency of the lens and myopia (Kleberger,
1967; Rubin and Barnett, 1967) or function as double
focussed lenses (Wood et al., 1967).
Hemolysis is seen both
in vitro
and
in vivo
after the
use of DMSO (Distefano and Klahn, 1965; Caujolle et
al., 1967; Smith et al., 1967; Waller et al., 1983).
Nephrotoxicity has been reported with oral and
intravenous administration of DMSO in mice, rats,
dogs and cats (Caujolle et al., 1967; Smith et al.,
1967). Signs of renal damage include hematuria,
hemoglobinuria and mild tubular nephrosis or
nephritis at postmortem examination (Caujolle et al.,
1967; Smith et al., 1967). Its exposure to developing
mouse brains @ 0.3 mL/kg can produce brain
degeneration (Hanslick et al., 2009). Hepatotoxicity
has been reported in chronic toxicity trials involving
laboratory animals (Caujolle et al., 1967; Smith et al.,
1967; Rubin, 1975). Various toxic agents if present in
DMSO solution can readily penetrate rubber gloves
and skin (Banthorpe and Lamont, 1967).
In solution with DMSO, effects of some hepatotoxic
agents, such as aromatic hydrocarbons are potentiated
(Kocsis et al., 1968; and Kocsis et al., 1975). DMSO
enhances hepatic binding and metabolism of some