Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) impairs neuronal recovery following sciatic nerve injury in rats

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) is a substituted dithiocarbamate that is metabolically interconvertible with disulfiram (Ant-abuse). In recent years DEDC has received considerable attention because of its clinical applications and potential role in mediating both the toxic and therapeutic actions of disulfiram which is frequently used for alcohol aversion therapy. DEDC is known for its multiplicity of action that exerts both pro- and antioxidant effects. In rodents DEDC has been shown to produce neuroprotective as well as neurotoxic effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of DEDC on neurological recovery following sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI) in rats.

Adult female Wistar rats were subjected to SNCI with a haemostat under deep anaesthesia. The animals were orally treated with DEDC at the doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg body weight 1 hr before SNCI and then once daily for 60 days. The animals were observed for sciatic functional index (walking deficit), electrophysiological and histological changes. Vitamin E level was measured to deter-mine antioxidant status of sciatic nerve.

Crush injury to the sciatic nerve resulted in a significant impairment of functional response which gradually recovered over a period of 22 days. Treatment of animals with DEDC caused a significant delay in functional recovery which was accompanied by poor histo-logical and electrophysiological outcome. Prooxidant effect of DEDC is quite evident from a significant decrease in vitamin E levels in both injured and uninjured sciatic nerves.

Our results demonstrate that exposure to DEDC adversely affects recovery from peripheral nerve injury. The delay may to some extent be attributed to DEDC induced oxidative stress.