Effect of green tea extracts on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.
BACKGROUND
A common side effect of oxaliplatin is peripheral neurotoxicity. Oxidative stress to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) may be one of important pathogenic mechanisms. Green tea contains four polyphenol catechins, which are known to be potent antioxidants. The present work is aimed to determine whether green tea extracts have neuroproective or palliative effects on neurotoxicity symptoms induced by oxaliplatin.


METHODS
We conducted behavioral tests including sensory and thermal thresholds, an electrophysiological study, and TUNEL staining to assess neurotoxicity during the experimental period using animal models.


RESULTS
A total of 14 adult rats were randomly allocated into two groups. Oxaliplatin (4 mg/kg) with or without green tea (300 mg/kg orally once daily) was administered intraperitoneally twice per week for 6 weeks. At 4 and 6 weeks after oxaliplatin administration, sensory threshold values were significantly decreased and at 6 weeks after oxaliplatin administration, thermal threshold values were significantly increased in oxaliplatin-treated rats compared with those in rat treated with oxaliplatin and green tea extracts. The electrophysiological assessment, including sensory nerve conduction and H-reflex-related sensory nerve conduction velocity, revealed no significant changes in the two groups. TUNEL staining showed no significant difference in the number of apoptotic-featured cells between the two experimental groups in the DRG or peripheral nerves, but the number of apoptotic-featured cells in DRG was higher than that in sciatic nerves within each group.


CONCLUSIONS
Green tea extracts may be a useful adjuvant to alleviate sensory symptoms after oxaliplatin administration, such as allodynia, but did not prevent morphometric or electrophysiological alterations induced by oxaliplatin.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, South Korea.
Jung Soo
JS
Lee
Yoon Tae
YT
Kim
Eun Kyoung
EK
Jeon
Hye Sung
HS
Won
Young-Seok
YS
Cho
Yoon Ho
YH
Ko
D000818:Animals; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000187:drug effects
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077150:Oxaliplatin