title: A proposed mechanism for amitriptyline neurotoxicity based on its detergent nature.
abstract: Although amitriptyline has gained attention as a potent local anesthetic, recent animal studies showed that it can cause irreversible neural impairment. We hypothesized that nerve membrane disruption caused by solubilization, a common detergent property, accounted for amitriptyline neurotoxicity. We used a two-phase approach to test our hypothesis. Firstly, we determined (1) the molecular aggregation concentration of amitriptyline, (2) the concentration of amitriptyline that disrupts artificial lipid membranes and (3) the concentration of amitriptyline that causes hemolysis. Secondly, we compared these levels with neurotoxic concentrations determined from assessment in a rat model of spinal anesthesia using changes in cutaneous stimulus threshold (CST). Amitriptyline concentrations that caused molecular aggregation, model membrane disruption and hemolysis were 0.46%, 0.35% and 0.3%, respectively. Animal study showed a significant increase in CST at >or=0.3% of amitriptyline, indicating neurological impairment. Since amitriptyline caused model membrane disruption and hemolysis at the molecular aggregation concentration, solubilization plays a role in the destruction of artificial membranes and erythrocytes. Furthermore, these concentrations are also in good agreement with the minimum concentration causing neurological injury. Therefore, while additional studies, including histopathology, are necessary to clarify this observation, amitriptyline neurotoxicity appears to be associated with its detergent nature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Tsuruta Orthopedic Clinic, Ushizu, Saga 849-0306, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nobutaka
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Tadahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Totoki
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003902:Detergents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008297:Male; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003902:Detergents; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; D000639:Amitriptyline; C002773:dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol