Histopathological effects of intramuscular metamizole sodium on rat sciatic nerve

Objective(s): We investigated the histopathological effects of metamizole sodium (MS) on the sciatic nerve.  Materials and Methods: This study was performed using ۴۸ adult male Wistar albino rats. Ten groups were constituted with ۶ rats in each group. MS injection into the sciatic nerve (group ۱), MS injection into the muscle [group ۳ (۵۰ mg/kg, ۰.۴ ml) and group ۵ (۵۰ mg/kg, ۰.۸ ml)], MS injection into the muscle cavity in the vicinity of the sciatic nerve [group ۲ (۵۰ mg/kg, ۰.۴ ml) and group ۴ (۵۰ mg/kg, ۰.۸ ml)], normal saline injection into the muscle in the vicinity of the sciatic nerve [group ۶A (۰.۴ ml) and ۶B (۰.۸ ml)], subjected to injury by drilling the entire layer of nerve without injecting any drug, normal saline injection in the sciatic nerve, and control group. Nerve and muscle samples were taken ۷ days after administrations. Tissue sections were stained using a hematoxylin and eosin-Luxol® fast blue stain, assessed by a histologist. Results: The levels of axonal degeneration of the rats in groups ۱, ۲, ۳, ۴, ۵, ۶A, and  ۸ were found to be significantly higher compared to the levels of the rats in the control group (P<۰.۰۵). Myelin degeneration of the rats in all groups was found to be significantly higher compared to myelin degeneration of the rats in the control group (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: It was observed that MS could lead to injury in the sciatic nerve with a toxic effect due to diffusion.

Keywords:

Histopathology , Metamizole , Rat , Sciatic nerve