Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 4
Paclitaxel Inhibits Expression of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Prevents Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Spinal Ventral Horn in Rats After C7 Spinal Root Avulsion
Sze Kiat SIM1,2, Yew Chin TAN2, Jong Huat TEE2, Abdul Aziz YUSOFF2, Jafri Malin ABDULLAH2,3
1Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
2Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Neurosciences, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
3Neuroscience Centre for Services and Research – P3Neuro, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.14035-15.1 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.

Material 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.

Results: 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. Keywords : Root avulsion, Spinal motoneurons, Nitric oxide synthase, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Adult rats

Corresponding author : Jafri Malin Abdullah, brainsciences@gmail.com