Pregabalin attenuates docetaxel-induced neuropathy in rats

J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2012 Aug;32(4):586-590. doi: 10.1007/s11596-012-1001-y. Epub 2012 Aug 11.

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a serious clinical problem for patients receiving cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential efficacy of pregabalin in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in rats. A total of 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group 1, naive control; group 2, treated with pregabalin (30 mg/kg p.o., for 8 days); group 3, docetaxel was given by single intravenous infusion at 10 mg/kg; groups 4 and 5, pregabalin at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg respectively was orally administered for 8 days after the docetaxel treatment. On day 8, behavioral test was performed, and substance P and CGRP release in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and sciatic nerve were analyzed by electron microscope. Our results showed that docetaxel induced mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, and sciatic nerve impairment and substance P and CGRP release in DRG. However, oral administration of pregabalin (10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) for 8 consecutive days significantly attenuated docetaxel-induced neuropathy by ameliorating heat hypoalgesia, cold allodynia, impairment of sciatic nerve and reducing the release of substance P and CGRP. The findings in the present study reveal that pregabalin may be a potential treatment agent against chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Docetaxel
  • Ganglia, Spinal / drug effects
  • Male
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Pregabalin
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sciatic Nerve / drug effects
  • Taxoids / adverse effects*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Pregabalin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid