Treatment of cerebral infarction with dimethyl sulfoxide in the mongolian gerbil.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been reported to have beneficial effects in the treatment of central nervous system trauma, possibly due to its reported anti-inflammatory, antiedemic, anticoagulate, diuretic, hypothermic, vasodilatory, and respiratory stimulatory effects as well as an ability to correct membrane instability and penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In this paper we discussed these properties, and how they may be of benefit in ischemic cerebral infarction and elevated intracranial pressure. We also described a study we performed to determine if treatment with DMSO would decrease the morbidity and mortality from experimental cerebral infarction.