Effect of pioglitazone on sciatic nerve ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the effect of pioglitazone on sciatic nerve ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat.


METHODS
Sixty rats were divided into 10 groups (n = 6). Treatment groups received 15 mg/kg pioglitazone intraperitoneally 1 h before induction of I/R by clamping the right common iliac and femoral arteries for 3 h. After certain time intervals of reperfusion (0 h, 3 h, 1, 4, and 7 days), the function of the hind limb was assessed using behavioral scores based on gait, grasp, paw position, and pinch sensitivity. The sciatic nerve was removed for light microscopy studies and graded for ischemic fiber degeneration (IFD) and edema. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) level was measured as an indicator of lipid peroxidation at the end of reperfusion intervals.


RESULTS
Behavioral scores were improved in the pioglitazone groups just on the 4th and 7th days of reperfusion (p < 0.05). Comparison of the pioglitazone with the control groups showed significant differences in edema at 4 and 7 days. Although IFD decreased in the pioglitazone group at 7 days of reperfusion, it was not statistically significant. In addition, the MDA level was significantly lower in pioglitazone-treated groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show the protective effect of pioglitazone on sciatic nerve I/R injury.
Rahimian
Reza
R
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fakhfouri
Gohar
G
Rasouli
Mohammad R
MR
Nouri
Mohsen
M
Nezami
Behtash G
BG
Paydar
Mehrak J
MJ
Asadi-Amoli
Fahimeh
F
Dehpour
Ahmad Reza
AR
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077205:Pioglitazone