Neuroprotective effects of agmatine in experimental peripheral nerve injury in rats: a prospective randomized and placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the activity of agmatine, an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor and selective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, on reducing tissue damage in distal part of traumatic nerve in an experimental rat peripheral nerve injury model.


METHODS
Sciatic nerves of 30 Sprague Dawley male rats were used. Rats were divided into 5 groups; group 1 (n=6), control group; group 2 (n=6), axonotmesis + placebo group; group 3 (n=6), axonotmesis + 50 mg/kg agmatine treatment group; group 4 (n=6), neurotmesis + placebo group; group 5 (n=6), neurotmesis + 50 mg/kg agmatine treatment group. Axonolysis, axon degeneration, edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation were evaluated in histopathologic examinations of all the groups.


RESULTS
When group 2 was compared with group 3 in histopathologic sections, axonolysis was less in group 3 (p=0.007), as was axon degeneration (p=0.022) and edema (p=0.018). When group 4 was compared with group 5, axonolysis was less in group 5 (p=0.009), as was axon degeneration (p=0.006) and edema (p=0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated agmatine to have antioxidant and antineurotoxic effects in an experimental rat peripheral nerve injury model.
Ministry of Health, Sevket Yilmaz Research and Training Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Bursa, Turkey.
Aykut
A
Sezer
Bulent
B
Guclu
Burak
B
Kazanci
Murteza
M
Cakir
Mustafa Kemal
MK
Coban
D000376:Agmatine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000601:surgery*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000376:Agmatine; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II