Paclitaxel Inhibits Expression of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Prevents Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Spinal Ventral Horn in Rats After C7 Spinal Root Avulsion

• Main Authors: Sim, Sze Kiat, Tan, Yew Chin, Tee, Jong Huat, Abdul Aziz, Yusoff, Jafri Malin, Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkish Neurosurgery, ITN 2015
• Subjects: Q Science (General); R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10709/1/Abdul%20Aziz.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10709/; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84938376732&partnerID=40&md5=eb041973ba1971b9b6c0fac6f4853707

AIm: This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of intrathecally infused paclitaxel in the prevention of motoneuron death and mitochondrial dysfunction following brachial plexus avulsion injury. Mat erIal and Methods: Brachial root avulsion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats. The Paclitaxel treatment group (n = 32) received a 5-d intrathecal infusion of paclitaxel (256 ng/d) via a micro infusion pump, whereas the Control group (n = 32) received normal saline. The cervical cord was harvested at survival times of 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk (n = 8 each). The number of surviving and nNOS-positive motoneurons at the injury level in the ventral horn was determined with NADPH-d histochemistry. Mitochondrial function at this location was measured with CcO histochemistry and densitometry. An independent t-test was applied to detect differences between the study groups at specific survival times. Result s: The Paclitaxel treatment group showed a significant relative reduction in nNOS expression at 2, 4, and 6 wk, and significantly improved mitochondrial function at 4 and 6 wk. Motoneuron survival was significantly increased at 2, 4, and 6 wk. ConclusIon: Paclitaxel has a significant neuroprotective effect against spinal motoneuron degeneration following brachial plexus avulsion injury, which involves inhibition of nNOS expression and prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction.