Background: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy has a wide reaching impact across various cancer patient populations. Paclitaxel is one of taxane family of antineoplastic agents. Omega - 3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are fatty acids that contain more than one C-C double bond. Curcumin is a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa.
Aim: This study aimed to compare the possible protective effect of omega 3, curcumin and their combined use on experimentally induced peripheral neuropathy in sciatic nerve of adult male albino rats .
Material and methods: Fifty rats were randomly divided into 5groups (10- rats each): Group I (Control group): were injected with saline intraperitoneally. Group II: were injected with paclitaxel intraperitoneally 2mg/kg every other day for 4 weeks. Group III: were injected with paclitaxel intraperitoneally 2mg/kg every other day for 4 weeks and omega 3 0.5 g/kg daily orally for 4 weeks starting from the first day of paclitaxel administration. Group IV: were injected with paclitaxel intraperitoneally 2mg/kg every other day for 4 weeks and curcumin 200 mg/kg orally for 4 weeks starting from the first day of paclitaxel administration. Group V: were injected with paclitaxel intraperitoneally 2mg/kg every other day for 4 weeks , omega 3 0.5 g/kg daily orally for 4 weeks and curcumin 200 mg/kg orally for 4 weeks starting from the first day of paclitaxel administration .Animals were scarified after 24 hours from the last dose of paclitaxel administration. Sciatic nerve samples were taken from rats of all groups for Histological Method: H&E ,osmic acid staining & EM study (2) Immunohistochemical methods: Immuno-staining for neurofilament protein for good localization of axons.
Results: Control group showed normal structure of sciatic nerve normal nerve fibers axons and normal nuclei of Schwann cells. Group II loosely arranged nerve fibers revealed multiple vacuolations and degenerated axons, splitting, irregular thickening, infolding, focal lysis of myelin sheaths.The axoplasm showing swollen degenerated mitochondria surrounded by Schwann cell revealing pyknotic nuclei with irregular nuclear outline. Group III, Group IV and Group V showed minimal degenerative changes, some nerve fiber axons were normal while others showed some vacuolations, moderately thickened myelin sheaths, nearly normal mitochondria and some Schwann cells revealing nearly normal nucleus with regular nuclear outline.
Conclusion: Co-administration of omega 3 or curcumin with paclitaxel treatment was associated with less degenerative changes in sciatic nerve fibers. However, combined use of omega 3 and curcumin with pacilitaxel treatment can give better results.
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