Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents and reduces oxaliplation-evoked painful peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

Abstract: AIM: To examine the potential efficacy of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) to prevent and treat oxaliplation-evoked pain.METHODS: 20 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (150-200 g) were randomly divided into two groups, ALCAR group and control group. Each group had 10 rats. A stock solution of oxaliplatin is diluted to 2 mg/mL with 5% dextrose in distilled water and injected IP at 2 mg/kg on five consecutive days (d 0-d 4) in a volume of 1.0 mL/kg. ALCAR (100 mg/kg; p.o.) or vehicle was given daily starting on day 0 (the day of the first oxaliplatin injection) and continuing until day 21 (i.e.,15 days after the last oxaliplatin injection. Mechano-allodynia and mechano-hyperalgesia were assessed using von Frey hairs with bending forces of 4 g and 15 g, respectively, on d 8, d 22, d 27, d 35, and d 41 postoperatively. Withdrawal responses were counted and expressed as an overall percentage response.RESULTS: Mechano-allodynia (4 g) and mechano-hyperalgesia (15 g) of the rats in ALCAR group were significantly and persistently reduced (P<0.01) on d 8, d 22, d 27, d 35, and d 41 postoperatively in comparison with control group.CONCLUSION: It is concluded that ALCAR may be useful in the prevention and treatment of oxaliplatin-induced painful peripheral neuropathy.

Key words: Acetyl-L-carnitine, Oxaliplation, Pain

CLC Number:

R614
R965.2

LIU Guo-kai, Gary Bennett. Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents and reduces oxaliplation-evoked painful peripheral neuropathy[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2011, 16(12): 1379-1382.

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