The Preventive Effect of Nimodipine on the Cisplatin Induced Neuropathy

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin has effectiveness in the treatment of solid tumor by active cytotoxic action, but with significant side effects such as peripheral neuropathy. To investigate the prevention of neuropathy, nimodipine was examined. METHOD: Fifty female rats (Sprague-Dawley strain; BW 210-260 g, 12-15 week old) were used control group; cisplatin group; cisplatin-nimodipine 2 week group, 10; ciplatin-nimodipine 4 week group; base group. Peripheral neuropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of the cisplatin (0.04 mg/ml, 1 ml/kg/ip/ for 2 weeks). Nimodipine was injected intraperitoneally for 2 weeks and 4 weeks in cisplatin-nimodipine 2 week group and cisplatin-nimodipine 4 week group, respectively. Motor and sensory nerve conduction studies were done using in rat tail nerve from the beginning and biweekly till to 10th week. RESULTS: Weight reduction was significant in cisplatin group at 2nd week (p0.05). CONCLUSION: The neurotoxicity of cisplatin revealed in motor and sensory neurons. The neuropathy has recovered to control value in 6th week and the preventive effect of nimodipine was transient.