Sex-related differences in cisplatin-induced neuropathy in rats.
BACKGROUND
Cisplatin is used as an anti-neoplastic agent against several cancers. Neuropathy is one of its major side effects that contributes to patients' intolerance to the standard regimen. Sex-related differences have been reported in nerve injury and neuropathies. However, there has been no study on cisplatin regarding this issue.


OBJECTIVE
Compare various abnormalities in cisplatin neuropathy between sexes.


METHODS
Two mg/kg of cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally twice a week for five consecutive weeks. Body weight, heat latency of hind paw and sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), pathological alterations in the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) including the level of NGF in the sciatic nerve were examined. Untreated rats of both sexes were used as controls.


RESULTS
Weight loss, prolonged heat latency, and slow MNCV in the treated rats of both sexes with higher severity in males were showed. Furthermore, reduction in myelinated fiber diameter, myelin thickness, and myelinated fiber density was more severe in females, whereas, atrophy of neuronal cell body, nucleus, and nucleolus was more striking in males. The decreased level of NGF was similar between sexes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest the differences in various aspects of cisplatin neurotoxicity between sexes. However, future studies are needed to verify this issue in a clinical condition and clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Wongtawatchai
Tulaporn
T
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Agthong
Sithiporn
S
Kaewsema
Atitaya
A
Chentanez
Vilai
V
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin