Hello everybody! I've just started a new series of experiments where I administer seferal DMSO-dissolved drugs to mice intraperitoneally (i.e. by injection into abdominal cavity), at 100 uL volume. I've noticed that mice are in bad pain after such injections (including control pure-DMSO group), look sick afterwards, and two even died. So I doubt - is it humane, and is it a good method at all?
I think that dilution of drugs in DMSO should be prepared in a high concentration and after complete dissolution there could be possibility to make a smaller concentrations of the drug using physiological solution. Only then (at least 5-10 percent of DMSO but preferably less) it might be use for animal injection.
It is also our experience that sc or ip injections with DMSO could be rather painful in rodents. There is too little discussion) and knowledge about this, although biotechnicians and researchers use this solvent rather often. I guess that someone should write a review on this.
The concentration of DMSO should never be above 5% in the final injection volume. This has been the policy at every place that I have worked and I would be very surprised if a local animal care committee allowed a higher concentration for a chronic study. As well the pH should be as neutral as possible.
If the concentration of DMSO is too high it will have its own effects on the rodent, which will make interpretation of the data from the experiment even more difficult than usual.
I think the issue has to deal with the total quantify of DMSO that gets injected IP. In my experience the mice can comfortably handle low doses (e.g., 5ul of DMSO in a 25g mouse). If you go up to 10ul / 25g mouse you will notice that the animals produce a mild odor within minutes after being injected, and higher doses than this tend to make the mice look lethargic.
Thanks everyone for answers! I've switched to 10% DMSO (with drug) in normal saline, and mice seem to tolerate it fine.
Hi Yu Cao , have you used this concentration for a long-period injection? Like 4 or 6 weeks and inject everyday.
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