Effects of tamoxifen therapy on sciatic nerve crush injury: An experimental study in rats

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the effects of tamoxifen on sciatic nerve crush injury in a rat model using histopathological, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical approaches. Methods In this study, 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged of 5 to 7 weeks and weighing between 300 g and 400 g were used. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (group C), sciatic nerve injury (group SNI), and sciatic nerve injury with tamoxifen (group SNT). The sciatic nerve crush injury model was performed using the De Koning’s crush force method. In group C, only a skin incision was made and then the skin was sutured. In group SNI, the injury model was performed but no treatment was applied. In group SNT, the injury model was executed, and then 40 mg/kg/day tamoxifen was given for 4 weeks by intraperitoneal methods. At the end of 4 weeks, all animals were killed using high doses of an anesthetic. Approximately, 2-cm sciatic nerve samples were obtained for histopathological, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses using the old skin incision. Results In the histopathological examination, vascular congestion and density of vacuolization were significantly lower in group SNT than in group SNI (p<0.05). In the histomorphometric examination, the mean sciatic nerve diameter was 306±62 μm in group C, 510±42 μm in group SNI, and 204±23 μm in group SNT. A significant difference was observed in the sciatic nerve diameter measurements among the 3 groups (p<0.05). In pairwise comparisons, the mean sciatic nerve diameter was significantly lower in group SNT than in group SNI (p=0.00002). Sciatic nerve diameter measurements of both groups were found to be significantly higher than group C (p<0.05). The mean epineurium thickness was 17±0.8 μm in group C, 32±2.5 μm in group SNI, and 17±0.8 μm in group SNT. A significant difference was observed in the epineurium thickness measurements among the 3 groups (p<0.05). In pairwise comparisons, the epineurium thickness was significantly higher in group SNI than in groups SNT and C (p<0.05). In the immunohistochemical analysis, S100 immunoreactivity was found significantly higher in group SNI than in the other 2 groups (p<0.05). Conclusion The histomorphometric, histopathological, and immunohistochemical data obtained from this study have shown that tamoxifen has a beneficial effect on sciatic nerve crush injury in the experimental rat model.

Glibenclamide promoted functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury in male Wistar rats

“…Functional reaction to medicine may be assessed in rats following a sciatic nerve crush via observing extremity alterations and walking analysis [4]. The sciatic nerve function index (SFI) is a method for evaluating sciatic nerve function.…”

“…On the damaged nerve, there is a loss of sensation and/or motor capabilities. Edema, free oxygen radical production, and inflammatory reactions are common signs of crush injuries [4]. Whereas injury to the PNS, notably the sciatic nerve, can be repaired, complete function restoration is rare [5].…”

Clinical, electrophysiological, and histomorphological effects of local coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E use in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury

“…Peripheral nerve injury, which is one of the important causes of functional morbidity, may occur for various reasons, including blunt or penetrating trauma, acute compression injuries, and burns, and is the most common injury form of the nervous system. 1 , 2 Lipid peroxidation occurs due to nerve damage. Free radicals from lipid peroxidation cause oxidative stress and subsequent tissue damage.…”

Low-Stiffness Hydrogels Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Through the Rapid Release of Exosomes

“…Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common clinical disease that can be caused by blunt injury, penetrating injury, and crush damage. ( Akar et al, 2021 ). PNI has been reported in 2–3% of trauma patients.…”

“…Therefore, new treatments for PNI need to be developed urgently ( Zhang et al, 2021b ). As a classic model, rat sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI) is widely used in the study of the repair process of PNI ( Savastano et al, 2014 ; Akar et al, 2021 ). After surgery in mice with SNI, the motor and sensory disturbances caused by nerve damage were quantitatively evaluated through the sciatic functional index (SFI) and rat gastrocnemius morphological indicators ( Seltzer et al, 1990 ).…”