Evaluation of stereologic indices of sciatic nerve after administration of hydroalcoholic extract of propolis in oxaliplatin-treated rats

Background and Aim : Oxaliplatine is one of the effective chemotherapy drugs widely used in the cancer treatment. One of the important side effects of oxaliplatine is neuropathic pain that reduces patients life quality. Propolis is a byproduct of honeybee which has been used to treat various chronic painful conditions in many countries as a traditional remedy. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of propolis on stereological quantifications of sciatic nerve following chemotherapy.Methods : 24 male wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were divided into four groups (n=6/group). Oxaliplatin (2.4 mg/kg, I.P) injected 4 times per week for three weeks for treatment groups and oxaliplating group. Treatment groups involved one group with administration of propolis 50 mg/kg and other with dose of 100 mg/kg/day, (P.O). At the end of project, animals were euthanized and the sciatic nerve samples were collected for stereological quantifications. In stereological studies, total number of sciatic nerves, Fiber Area (μm2) and Fiber Diameter (μm) of sciatic nerve of rats were assessed.Results : Injection of oxaliplatin caused severe structural changes in the sciatic nerve. Many of the myelinated nerve cells of treatment groups showed different stages of degeneration compared to the control group. In the rats treated with propolis, total number, Fiber Area (μm2) and Fiber Diameter (μm) significantly (P<0.05) decreased.Conclusion : The stereological evaluations showed that propolis could have an inhibitory effect on nerve degeneration induced by oxaliplatin in a dose depended manner.

کلیدواژه ها:

Oxaliplatin ، Pain ، stereology