title: Potential risk of mitomycin C at high concentrations on peripheral nerve structure.
abstract: Although the local application of mitomycin C may prevent epidural adhesion after laminectomy, mitomycin C can induce neurotoxicity in optic and acoustic nerves at high concentrations. To determine the safe concentration range for mitomycin C, cotton pads soaked with mitomycin C at different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mg/mL) were immediately applied for 5 minutes to the operation area of rats that had undergone laminectomy at L1. Rat sciatic nerves, instead of dorsal nerves, were used in this study. The results showed that mitomycin C at 0.1-0.5 mg/mL did not damage the structure and function of the sciatic nerve, while at 0.7 mg/mL, mitomycin C significantly reduced the thickness of the sciatic nerve myelin sheath compared with lower concentrations, though no functional change was found. These experimental findings indicate that the local application of mitomycin C at low concentrations is safe to prevent scar adhesion following laminectomy, but that mitomycin C at high concentrations (> 0.7 mg/mL) has potential safety risks to peripheral nerve structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jinhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Shihao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical College, Taishan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Changhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Que
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
keywords: NSFC grant; electrophysiology; laminectomy; mitomycin C; myelin sheath; nerve function; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; peripheral nerve injury