title: Effect of oxytocin administration on nerve recovery in the rat sciatic nerve damage model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growth factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) have been shown to play a role in the healing process of nerve injury. Recent researches have also shown that oxytocin administration activates these growth factors of importance for the healing of nerve tissue. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin on peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent transection damage model on the right sciatic nerve and defective damage model on the left sciatic nerve. The animals were assigned to one of two groups: control group or treatment group (received 80 mg/kg oxytocin intraperitoneally for 12 weeks). The sciatic nerve was examined, both functionally (on the basis of climbing platform test) and histologically (on the basis of axon count), 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after the injury. Also, stereomicroscopic and electrophysiological evaluations were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly greater improvements in electrophysiological recordings and improved functional outcome measures were presented in the treatment group at 12-week follow-up. Stereomicroscopic examinations disclosed prominent increases in vascularization on proximal cut edges in the oxytocin group in comparison with the control group. Higher axon counts were also found in this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraperitoneal oxytocin administration resulted in accelerated functional, histological, and electrophysiological recovery after different sciatic injury models in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gümüs
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. ersinkuyucu@yahoo.com.tr.|Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Istanbul Medipol University, TEM Avrupa Göztepe çıkışı, No: 1 Bağcılar, Istanbul, Turkey. ersinkuyucu@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuyucu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oytun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Katip Celebi University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kazimoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oltulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman Arslan
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bora
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin