title: Enhancement of neuromuscular recovery after nerve repair in primates.
abstract: This investigation describes the use of the calcium-activated protease inhibitor, leupeptin, as an adjunctive therapy to the microsurgical repair of median nerves in a primate model. Our results indicate that leupeptin facilitates morphological recovery in denervated thenar muscles and in distal sensory and mixed motor-sensory nerve trunks and functional recovery measured by motor nerve conduction velocity. Toxicological testing of leupeptin showed that, when administered at a dose of 12 mg/kg, intramuscularly, once daily, haematological and clotting profiles were not adversely affected.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002428:Cebus; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007976:Leupeptins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C032854:leupeptin