Injectable agent for the treatment of air emboli-induced paraplegia in rats.

Rats with air emboli-induced paraplegia were treated with dialy levodopa injections (intra-arterially or intraperitoneally). Of the control animals, 20% fully recovered from paraplegia during a period of 7 d. Of the levodopa treated animals, 85% fully recovered during the same period. It appears, therefore, that levodopa might be one of the few injectable agents enhancing recovery from air-induced paraplegia, suggesting its possible use in decompression sickness.