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Lumbar Subarachnoid Ethylenediaminetetraacetate Induces Hindlimb Tetanic Contractions in Rats

Prevention by CaCl₂ Pretreatment; Observation of Spinal Nerve Root Degeneration

Departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, Pharmacology, Neuropathology, Physiology, and Biophysics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na₂EDTA) has replaced sodium bisulfite as the antioxidant in 2-chloroprocaine, Nesacaine CE. This study was undertaken to determine whether this new formulation has neurotoxic effects when administered in the subarachnoid space. Sprague-Dawley rats receiving subarachnoid injections of 1.5 mM or higher concentrations of Na₂EDTA immediately initiated a circling behavior that was followed by the development of tetanic contractions of the hindlimbs lasting for 15–20 min. The tetanic contractions were followed by a brief period of hindlimb paralysis. Pretreatment of rats by subarachnoid injections of 1 mM CaCl₂ prevented the development of tetanic contractions and paralysis of the hindlimb. Histologic examination of animals receiving Na₂EDTA revealed moderate to severe focal degenerative changes in spinal nerve roots. Control rats receiving subarachnoid injections of normal saline solution did not develop tetanic contraction nor pathological changes on light microscopy. These results suggest that the preservative used in Nesacaine-MPF may be neurotoxic.

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