Nerve regeneration and pharmacological suppression of the scar reaction at the suture site. An experimental study on the effect of estrogen-progesterone, methylprednisolone-acetate and cis-hydroxyproline in rat sciatic nerve.
Pharmacological suppression of the scar reaction was tested as a possible method for improving axonal regeneration after transection and suture of the sciatic nerve of rats. The animals in the experimental groups were systemically treated post-operatively with estrogen-progesterone, methylprednisolone-acetate (Depomedrone) or cis-hydroxyproline. Only in the cis-hydroxyproline treated animals was there a tendency towards a decrease in fibroblastic activity at the suture site after 4 weeks. However, there was no difference in the growth of axons to the distal nerve segment after pharmacological treatment as compared to non-treated animals, when tested 12 weeks post-operatively. The motor nerve conduction velocity was however significantly greater in both the cis-hydroxyproline and the methylprednisolone-acetate groups as compared with the estrogen-progesterone and the control groups. In conclusion, cis-hydroxyproline and also methylprednisolone-acetate may improve the function of regenerating peripheral nerve, while estrogen-progesterone does not seem to have this effect.
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008954:Models, Biological; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D011374:Progesterone; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D008775:Methylprednisolone