Evaluation of desmethylmisonidazole-induced neurotoxicity in the rat using brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAEPs) and a scale that evaluates clinical signs of neurotoxicity were used to measure the onset of neurotoxic effects seen in rats after chronic injection of 400 mg/kg/day of the radiosensitizer desmethylmisonidazole (DMM) for 5 days/week for 7 weeks. A significant neurotoxic effect was indicated by increases in the latencies of peaks 4 and 5 of the BAEP after the 24th injection of DMM; clinical signs of neurotoxicity were observed after the 30th injection. Histologic examination of brainstems from rats sacrificed after selected number of injections during treatment showed that the onset of lesions in the brainstem was gradual but not extensive. Pentobarbital used as an anesthetic agent had no effect on the induction of neurotoxicity.