[Dimethyl sulphoxide suppresses hydroxyl radical formation of muscle fiber necrosis induced by bupivacaine hydrochloride].

We induced acute skeletal muscle necrosis by using bupivacaine hydrochloride in Wistar rats and found that both 2,5- and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid significantly increased in the skeletal muscle. Dimethyl sulphoxide, a free radical scavenger, was administrated for 5 days, and resulted in significant lowering of the concentrations of 2, 5- and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid for four days. Histologically, the diameter of the regenerated muscle fiber seemed to grow by using dimethyl sulphoxide. Dimethyl sulphoxide may decrease the muscle degeneration. These results suggest that dimethyl sulphoxide is an effective hydroxyl radical scavenger, and may be a candidate for the treatment of myopathy.