Dexamethasone decreases blood flow in normal nerves and dorsal root ganglia.
METHODS
An experimental physiologic and histologic study of dexamethasone effects on peripheral nerves.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the effect of topically applied 0.4% dexamethasone on acute changes in nerve blood flow and subsequent histologic changes in rat sciatic nerve fibers.


BACKGROUND
Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used clinically to reduce the neural consequences of inflammation. Several reports of accidental injury to nerves after steroid injections have raised questions about the mechanisms involved in dexamethasone-induced neurotoxic injury.


METHODS
Nerve blood flow studies using a laser Doppler flowmeter were conducted in animals with stable temperature and arterial pressure. Dexamethasone 0.4%, 0.1 mL was applied topically to rat sciatic nerve in the following protocol groups: 1) nerve blood flow recording every 5 minutes for 30 minutes, and 2) initial nerve blood flow recording and repeat recording at 4 hours. Three additional animals had 30-minute nerve blood flow recordings in which normal saline was substituted for dexamethasone; these animals were used for control and to assure that the experimental preparation was viable throughout the observational period. Additional groups of two animals each received dexamethasone but were used only for neuropathologic observation at 2, 4, and 6 days after treatment. Neuropathologic studies were conducted on glutaraldehyde-fixed, plastic-embedded tissue.


RESULTS
Application of saline to the exposed sciatic nerves did not significantly change nerve blood flow from baseline values. Nerve blood flow values remained constant throughout the observational period. Dexamethasone, however, significantly reduced nerve blood flow in both the 30-minute and 4-hour groups. Some animals showed an initial transient increase in blood flow before nerve blood flow began to steadily decline to the final values reported. Neuropathologic changes were minimal and consisted only of edema and occasional subperineurial activation of Schwann cells. No demyelination or degeneration was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone causes statistically significant reductions in normal nerve blood flow at 30 minutes and 4 hours after topical application; however, the reduction is on average below the threshold for causing ischemic changes in the structure of peripheral nerve fibers.
Shishido
Hiroaki
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
Kikuchi
Shinichi
S
Heckman
Heidi
H
Myers
Robert R
RR
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone