[Adaptational effect of dimethylsulfoxide during chronic emotional-painful stress in rats]

Intraperitoneal injection of hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to rats (1 g/kg body weight, daily for 3 weeks) did not change their behaviour in the open field and had no effect on blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates. DMSO injection before stress prevented changes usually induced by chronic (three-week) emotional-painful stress. DMSO increased superoxide dismutase activity in brain homogenates and serum. It is suggested that hydroxyl radicals (OH) play the key role in the realization of stress-induced effects and that molecular mechanisms of anti-stress effects of DMSO include both scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and activation of superoxide dismutase.