Effects of Colistin on the Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity and F-wave in Mice

The aim of this study was to examine the changes of sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and F-wave for colistin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity using a mouse model. Mice were administered with colistin 5, 7.5 and 15mg/kg/day via a 3-min. intravenous infusion. The sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and F-wave were measured using the bipolar recording electrodes. The SNCV and F-wave latency changed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The significant increase of F-wave latency and significant decrease of SNCV appeared on day 3 (p<0.05 and 0.01, respectively) in the 15mg/kg/day group, and they were markedly changed on day 7 in the 7.5mg/kg/day (p<0.01 and 0.05, respectively) and 15mg/kg/day groups (both p<0.01). In addition, F-wave latency also significantly increased on day 7 in the 5mg/kg/day group (p<0.05) without any clinical signs. These results indicate that SNCV and F-wave latency were more sensitive in colistin-induced neurotoxicity in mice, which highlights the early monitoring tool of polymyxins neurotoxicity in the clinic.