Intraventricular dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) induces hydrocephalus in a dose-dependent pattern

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Toxicology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a common solvent in medical treatments, particularly for central nervous system (CNS) therapies.
• DMSO has been linked to adverse effects, including mitochondrial damage and apoptosis, and hydrocephalus as a secondary complication in CNS treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential adverse effects of intraventricular dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) administration on the brain.
• To determine if DMSO induces hydrocephalus and affects astrocyte viability and apoptosis.

Main Methods:

• Intraventricular injections of varied DMSO concentrations into 3-day-old mice.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify brain ventricular volumes.
• Immunofluorescence and astrocyte cultures to assess apoptosis and cellular effects.

Main Results:

• DMSO induced ventriculomegaly (enlarged ventricles) in a dose-dependent manner.
• Ciliated ventricular cells were proportionally affected by DMSO concentration.
• DMSO exposure led to increased apoptosis in cultured astrocytes.

Conclusions:

• Intraventricular DMSO administration causes hydrocephalus in a dose-dependent manner.
• This finding provides a potential explanation for hydrocephalus occurring as a complication in intracranial treatments using DMSO.