Amelioration the effect of sciatic nerve transection in the dorsal root ganglia in albino rat by methylprednisolone acetate

ABSTRACT

The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of methylprednisolone [MP] acetate on the cells of the dorsal root ganglia [DRG] following transection of the sciatic nerve in albino rats. Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were allocated into 4 groups. Animals of group II were injected with a single dose of normal saline. Animals of group II were injected with a single dose of MP acetate. Animals of both groups were subjected to surgical Sham's operation prior to the injection. Animals of both groups III and IV were subjected to transection of the right sciatic nerve. Those of group IV were injected with a single dose of MP acetate following transection. After 2 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and the fifth lumbar DRG were excised and processed for light microscopy. The results showed marked pathological lesions in the cells of DRG of animals of group III in the form of chromatolysis, eccentric position of nuclei, appearance of intracytoplasmic vacuoles, necrosis and disappearance of some DRG neurons. Inflammatory mononuclear cells were observed in the vicinity of degenerating and necrotic cells. The cells of DRG of animals of group IV showed a picture almost similar to that of the cells of DRG of animals of both control groups I and II. In conclusion, the present study has proved the neuroprotective effect of MP acetate in experimental model of peripheral nerve crush injury