Electrophysiology and ultrastructural changes in mouse sciatic nerve associated with colistin sulfate exposure

To investigate the neurotoxicity of colistin, female mice received colistin sulfate (7.5 mg/kg/12 h) intravenously for 7 days successively, the behavioral changes, and the neuropathological and electrophysiological characterizations of sciatic nerves were determined prior to administration and at 1, 3, 7 and 15 days thereafter. At 1, 3, and 7 days, the compound action potential durations (CAPDs), compound muscle action potential amplitudes (CAPAs), conduction velocities of sciatic-tibial nerve (NCVs) showed progressively abnormal changes with the time prolonged. Compared to the control, these changes were significant at day 7 (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), but at day 15, only CAPAs were significantly different (p < 0.05), other indexes presented a recovery tendency. These functional damages were confirmed by the synchronous ultrastructural observations which expressed axonal degeneration and demyelination in the sciatic nerves. These results indicated that peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in mice treated intravenously with colistin sulfate and the electrophysiological and ultrastructural changes of their sciatic nerves exerted in time-dependent fashion.