The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on renal function of the newborn rabbit

The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of intravenous dimet hyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a solvent used in a wide variety of products (medicin es), on kidney function in the newborn rabbit. Three groups of anesthetized , ventilated, normoxemic 4- to 8-day-old New Zealand White rabbits received a 90-min intravenous infusion of DMSO at a dose of 1.11 (group 1), 16.5 (g roup 2) or 111 mu g/kg/h (group 3). The only change observed in the animals of group 1 was a significant increase in filtration fraction (FF; p < 0.00 1), whereas no change at all was observed in the renal functional parameter s of the animals of group 2. The highest dose of DMSO (group 3), however, c aused a very significant (p < 0.001) decrease in renal blood flow(RBF) and a rise in renal vascular resistance (RVR), FF and urine volume (UV). Glomer ular filtration rate (GFR) and systemic parameters such as pH, mean arteria l blood pressure and heart rate did not change. The rise in GFR, RVR, UV (g roup 3 vs. 2) and FF (groups 3 vs. 2 and 2 vs. 1) was dose-dependent. No si gnificant dose-dependent decrease in RBF was found. To the best of our know ledge, there are no previous reports on the effect of DMSO on renal functio n in the solvent doses used in this study. We ascribe the report ed effects to the 'immaturity' of the newborn rabbit kidney. Consequently, this agent should be used with great caution in developmental studies. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG. Basel.