The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on the acute phase of experimental acid and alkali corrosive esophageal burns.

BACKGROUND, AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the acute phase of experimental corrosive esophageal burns. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty male rats were allocated into five groups (control, acid burn, alkali burn, acid burn + DMSO and alkali burn + DMSO) of ten rats each. Acid and alkali burns were creating by burning the distal esophagus with 1 N hydrochloric acid and 50% sodium hydroxide solution, respectively. DMSO was applied intraperitoneally at 15 minutes after burn creation and then every 12 hours for four days. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the 7th day. Histopathological changes in esophageal tissue were scored by a single investigator who was blind to the burn group. RESULTS Application of DMSO resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of acute tissue damage as measured by macroscopic and microscopic assessments in both the acidic and alkaline esophagitis groups. The increased immunohistochemical Ki-67 proliferation index was significantly suppressed in the DMSO-treated alkaline esophagitis group, p < 0.05. Furthermore, the immunoreactivity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) was significantly reduced in both the acid and alkali DMSO-treated groups, p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS DMSO reduced the acute phase symptoms and decreased the severity of tissue damage in both acidic and alkaline corrosive esophagitis.