The Effect of Memantine on Functional Recovery of the Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury in Rats.
OBJECTIVE
Following severe peripheral nerve injury (PNI), regeneration is often insufficient and functional recovery is incomplete. In this regard, glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist such as Memantine have been shown to have neuroprotective effects. We evaluated the effects of Memantine against sciatic nerve crush injury in male Wistar Rats.


METHODS
Memantine or vehicle was given parenteraly to rats for 7 days postoperative. In Memantine treatment groups, a single dose of agent (5 and 10 mg/kg) was administered daily. The control group was given vehicle in the same manner. The rats were subjected to crush injury in the left sciatic nerve with non-serrated clamp for 30 seconds. Behavioural, electrophysiological and morphological alterations were evaluated during the experimental period.


RESULTS
Results showed that Memantine has no significant effect on regeneration process rate and functional recovery quality. In the sciatic functional index (SFI) test no significant difference was observed between Memantine treatment groups (5 and 10 mg/ kg) at any week.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the major neuroprotective effect of Memantine is due to its protective activity against NMDA receptormediated excitotoxicity, it seems that glutamate excitotoxicity is less important in motor impairment due to sciatic nerve crush injury. It is clear that more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad-Bagher
MB
Ghayour
Arash
A
Abdolmaleki
Morteza
M
Behnam-Rassouli
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008559:Memantine