rhGGF2 protects against cisplatin-induced neuropathy in the rat

✍ Scribed by Mariël P. ter Laak; Frank P.T. Hamers; Cassandra J. Kirk; Willem Hendrik Gispen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 199 KB
• Volume: 60
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(20000415)60:2<237::aid-jnr13>3.0.co;2-5

✦ Synopsis

In many patients treated with cisplatin a peripheral sensory neuropathy develops. This side-effect is considered dose-limiting, and therefore restricts the total dose of cisplatin that can be administered. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that recombinant human Glial Growth Factor 2 (rhGGF2) has neuroprotective effects. This prompted us to investigate in a rat model whether rhGGF2 ameliorates cisplatin neuropathy. A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into four groups of 12 rats each. Three groups received cisplatin and were treated with either 0.1 mg/kg rhGGF2, 0.3 mg/kg rhGGF2 or placebo. The fourth group (saline/placebo) served as age-matched controls. In the cisplatin/placebo treated rats a neuropathy developed, as determined by measurements of the nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Treatment with rhGGF2 dose-dependently protected against the neuropathy. Histological examination and morphometric analysis revealed that rhGGF2 also protects against cisplatin-induced changes in the morphology and size of DRG satellite cell nuclei. In a control study rhGGF2 did not affect normal NCV development. We conclude that rhGGF2 treatment is of benefit in the treatment of cisplatin neuropathy in the rat.