VASODILATING EFFECT OF DIPYRIDAMOLE ON RAT ENDONEURIAL VESSELS - MORPHOMETRIC STUDY

Ischaemia plays an important role in the pathogenetic mechanism of var ious neuropathies. To study the possible vasodilating effects of dipyr idamole on peripheral nerve vessels, morphometric analysis of endoneur ia vessels was undertaken in rat sciatic and tibial nerves after chron ic dipyridamole treatment. Each rat was injected with 4 mg/kg of dipyr idamole intraperitoneally twice daily for 5 days/week and once daily d uring the weekend for a period of 6 weeks. The mean luminal area and p erimeter of endoneurial vessels in the sciatic nerve were significantl y greater in dipyridamole-treated animals than in controls. The total fascicular area and densities of endoneurial vessels were not signific antly different between experimental and control groups. This study de monstrated that daily administration of dipyridamole over a 6 week per iod caused endoneurial vessels to dilate resulting in increased lumina l area and perimeter. Dipyridamole might be a potent therapeutic agent for peripheral neuropathies attributed to nerve ischaemia.