Assessment of 3-nitropropionic acid-evoked peripheral neuropathy in rats: neuroprotective effects of acetyl-l-carnitine and resveratrol.

Abstract

Oxidative stress and secondary excitotoxicity, due to cellular energy deficit, are major factors playing roles in 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Acute or chronic exposure to 3-NPA also leads to neuronal degeneration in different brain regions. The present study quantitatively assessed peripheral neuropathy induced by chronic exposure to 3-NPA in rats. The neuroprotective abilities of two antioxidants, acetyl-l-carnitine and resveratrol, were investigated as well. Rats were exposed for up to four weeks to 3-NPA alone or 3-NPA combined with acetyl-l-carnitine or resveratrol, administered peripherally. The experimental outcome was evaluated by neurophysiological, histological, and morphometric analyses. Rats exposed to 3-NPA developed hind limb paresis. Furthermore, a significant decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) was detected in tail nerves and axonal degeneration in sciatic nerves (p<0.05). Treatment with resveratrol prevented the functional effects of 3-NPA exposure, whereas treatment with acetyl-l-carnitine, preventing paresis, was not effective to MCV and morphological changes. These data suggest that resveratrol is a good candidate for treatment of metabolic neuropathy. The experimental outcome of this study shows that chronic treatment with 3-NPA in rats is relevant in development of an experimental model of toxic neuropathy.

• Authors: Zbigniew K Binienda, Micheal A Beaudoin, Bobby Gough, Syed F Ali, Ashraf Virmani
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 480 Issue 2 Pg. 117-21 (Aug 16 2010) ISSN: 1872-7972 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 20542088 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Environmental Pollutants
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Nitro Compounds
• Propionates
• Stilbenes
• Acetylcarnitine
• Resveratrol
• 3-nitropropionic acid

Topics

• Acetylcarnitine (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Axons (drug effects, pathology)
• Environmental Pollutants (toxicity)
• Male
• Nerve Degeneration (chemically induced, pathology, physiopathology)
• Neural Conduction (drug effects)
• Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Nitro Compounds (toxicity)
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Propionates (toxicity)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Resveratrol
• Sciatic Nerve (drug effects, pathology, physiopathology)
• Stilbenes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)