title: Rosiglitazone ameliorates the histological parameters of the dorsal root ganglion and functional assessment after sciatic nerve injury in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigates the effects of rosiglitazone (a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) on the histological parameters of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the recovery potential of the injured sciatic nerve in rats using stereological methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided into four groups including control, sham-operated, sciatic nerve crush (SNC), and SNC + rosiglitazone treatment (5 mg/kg body weight/day). The sciatic functional index (SFI) was used to evaluate functional recovery. The main DRG neurons were defined as either A cells (the larger cell with a central nucleolus in the nucleus and granulated cytoplasm) or B cells (the smaller cell with multiple peripherally located nucleoli and homogenous cytoplasm). Satellite cells (supporting) surround the neuron cell body.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume and surface of A and B cells decreased in the SNC group compared to the sham-operated group. In the SNC + rosiglitazone group, the volume of A and B cells decreased to a lesser extent, and was 30% and 48% higher in comparison with the SCN group. In the SNC + rosiglitazone rats the surface of the A and B cells decreased to a minor extent, and was 45% and 21% higher in comparison with the SNC animals. In rosiglitazone-treated rats the number of the A, B, and satellite cells decreased less, and was 38%, 34%, and 29% higher than in the SNC rats. The SFI score improved in SNC + rosiglitazone rats in comparison with non-treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rosiglitazone has an ameliorative effect on the DRG and enhances the functional recovery after SNC in rats.
authors: Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Noorafshan
authors: Khatoon
authors: K
authors: Shariat
authors: Saied
authors: S
authors: Karbalay-Doust
authors: Amene
authors: A
authors: Omidi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone