Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide and colchicine on the resorption of experimental amyloid.

The induction of amyloid in C3H mice by either casein solution or complete Freund's adjuvant emulsion with Mycobacterium butyricum was confirmed by partial splenectomy. The animals were autopsied after treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (550 mg/kg, 50 times), colchicine (0.02 mg/kg, 15--37 times), or saline solution as a control. Detailed histological comparisons of biopsy and autopsy spleens provided evidence that dimethyl sulfoxide was significantly effective in the resorption of amyloid, while in the animals treated with colchicine amyloid deposition was increased. The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide was discussed with reference to the modification of amyloid fibrils.