The neurotoxicity of radiosensitizing drugs: a biochemical assessment of desmethylmisonidazole (DMM) in the rat.

This study evaluates a major metabolite of misonidazole, desmethylmisonidazole, for its potential to induce peripheral nerve damage using the lysosomal enzyme correlates of neuropathological change, namely beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase. The results showed that desmethylmisonidazole like misonidazole had a similar potential for inducing peripheral nerve damage as measured biochemically, but the dosing regimen had to be maintained for 10 consecutive days as opposed to the 7 days required for misonidazole.