Delayed functional recovery by vincristine after sciatic nerve crush injury: a mouse model of vincristine neurotoxicity

Neurosci Lett. 2001 May 18;304(1-2):5-8. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)01720-7.

Abstract

Neuropathy is the dose-limiting side effect of vincristine (VCR) in cancer therapy. However, no simple experimental model has yet been reported. Here, we present a simple experimental model of VCR neurotoxicity using a mouse sciatic nerve crush model, which allows evaluation within a few weeks. VCR administered intravenously once on the day after the crush lesion caused a dose-dependent delay of the recovery of motor and sensory functions. The minimal dose required to cause the delay was 0.25 mg/kg, which corresponded to five times the usual clinical dose for man and was far less than the reported doses required to cause functional impairment in intact animals. The model would be useful not only for the development of new drugs but also for the estimation of the drug interactions in combination cancer therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Nerve Crush
  • Pain Measurement / drug effects
  • Pain Measurement / methods
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Sciatic Nerve / drug effects*
  • Sciatic Nerve / injuries
  • Sciatic Nerve / physiology
  • Vincristine / toxicity*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Vincristine