Dimethyl sulfoxide suppresses NMDA- and AMPA-induced ion currents and calcium influx and protects against excitotoxic death in hippocampal neurons

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used in neuroscience research as a solv ent for various pharmacological agents in both cell culture and in vivo stu dies and is also used in humans to treat musculoskeletal problems and pain. We now report that concentrations of DMSO to which neurons are typically e xposed in experimental studies and in human patients (0.5-1.5%) inhibit glu tamate responses in hippocampal neurons. DMSO suppresses, in a rapidly reve rsible manner, electrophysiological responses and calcium in influx induced by glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and alpha -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyliso xazole-4-prop Moreover, DMSO can prevent excitotoxic death of the neurons. These findings have important implications for the use of DMSO as a solvent in studies that involve glutamatergic neurotransmission. Our data also ide ntify a mechanism that might explain clinical effects of DMSO on both perip heral and CNS neurons and suggest a potential use for DMSO in the treatment of excitotoxic neurodegenerative conditions.