Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the possible neurotoxic activity of four local anesthetic agents, using an in vitro model, the isolated sciatic nerve of the rat. Methods: The two sciatic nerves of 14 Male Wistar rats were dissected, immersed in a saline solution and mounted across a three-chambered recording bath. The evoked compound action potentials (CAP) were recorded and displayed using and stored in a computer using a custom-made software throughout the experiment. The action of four local anesthetics (lidocaine, mepivacaine, articaine and prilocaine) at a concentration of 1% w/v , was investigated (n=7). As soon the CAP reached a value below 10 % of its initial value the anesthetic was rinsed twice and finally replaced with fresh normal saline. The examined parameters were: the time required for LA to decrease the CAP to 50% of its original value (IT50 ), the time for the CAP to recover to the 50% of the original value after the replacement (RT50) and the Vitality Time (VT50), the time the value of the CAP was above the RT50. In case VT50 was below the 10 (±1) hours the compounds were considered as neurotoxic. Results: Lidocaine IT50:4.40 ± 0.96 min, RT50:3.20 ± 0.48 hours, VT50:9.00 ± 1.21 hours. With a similar way were calculated the same parameters for the other three local anesthetics. Conclusion: The examined local anesthetics have a fast onset. Lidocaine and articaine are more successful in the establishment of anesthesia. Regarding the recovery from anesthesia mepivacaine has a better recovery than articaine. Regarding the nerve vitality mepivacaine has no effect on vitality, followed by lidocaine and prilocaine. Articaine appears to be more neutotoxic than the other three local anesthetics

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