title: The double-edged sword: effects of pregabalin on experimentally induced sciatic nerve transection and crush injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to research the effects of pregabalin on experimentally induced peripheral nerve crush injuries in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups: 1st group: healthy; 2nd group: axonotmesis control; 3rd group: anastomosis control; 4th group: axonotmesis+30 mg/kg of pregabalin; 5th group: axonotmesis+60 mg/kg of pregabalin; 6th group: anastomosis+30 mg/kg of pregabalin; 7th group: anastomosis+60 mg/kg of pregabalin. Evaluation of the sciatic functional index (SFI) was performed one day before and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 following surgery. The right sciatic nerves of all animals were examined histopathologically and molecularly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 28 days post-injury, the histopathological regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries for pregabalin 30 mg/kg treated groups was significantly better than that of the control groups. Also the SFI increases and TGF-β gene expression up-regulation were significantly better in pregabalin 30 mg/kg treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The histopathological, functional and molecular data suggest that pregabalin 30 mg/kg treatment in axonotmesis and anostomosis groups improves nerve regeneration and increases SFI in peripheral nerve injuries by activating antiinflammatory cytokine TGF-β1.
authors.affiliation: a Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthophedics and Traumatology, Horasan Public Hospital , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.affiliation: c Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.affiliation: d Ataturk University, Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.affiliation: c Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akpinar
authors.affiliation: e Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calik
authors.affiliation: a Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dostbil
authors.affiliation: f Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Surgery , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calikoglu
authors.affiliation: a Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: g Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Lutfu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ozel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D009409:Nerve Crush / Q000379:methods; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000069583:Pregabalin
keywords: Pregabalin; nerve crush injury; rat; sciatic nerve