Cardiovascular and neuromuscular effects of dimethyl sulfoxide in anesthetized rabbits.

In rabbits anesthetized with pentobarbital, the carotid arterial blood pressure and bilateral contractions of the gastrocnemius muscles due to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerves were recorded. Intravenous administration of up to 1 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide/kg caused profound hypotension and eventually failure of neuromuscular transmission. Caution must be used in considering dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent for drug administration.