Erdem Hüseyin, Sarıkcıoğlu Levent, Boyan Neslihan, Savaş Kamil, Yaras Nazmi, Oguz Ozkan
Department of Anatomy, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, TUR.
Department of Anatomy, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, TUR.
Cureus. 2023 Feb 14;15(2):e34979. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34979. eCollection 2023 Feb.
Background Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is a distal axonopathy characterized by the loss of distal myelinated axons. This study aimed to assess the potential neuroregenerative roles of vitamin D3 using functional and electron microscopic analyses in a rat model of VIPN. Methodology A total of 40 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four main groups: Group 1 (control, = 10), Group 2 (vincristine, = 10), Group 3 (vincristine + vitamin D3, = 10), and Group 4 (vincristine + vehicle, = 10). Vincristine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg, for two weeks, to induce peripheral neuropathy. Following successful induction, vitamin D3 (500 IU/kg/day) and vehicle treatments were applied weekly over four weeks. Structural (electron microscopic analysis) and functional analysis (von Frey test, pinch test, and electrophysiological analysis) were performed to assess functional recovery after peripheral nerve impairment. Results Withdrawal responses to mechanical allodynia and pinch tests were significantly higher in the vitamin D3-treated group (< 0.05). The electrophysiological analysis also supported these results. Electron microscopic evaluation revealed that the remyelinated nerve fibers in the vitamin D3-treated group (Group 3) had thick myelin sheaths and normal axonal morphology. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that vitamin D3 could promote functional and structural recovery in a rat model of VIPN. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which vitamin D3 exerts its regenerative effects in VIPN, using alternative administration protocols.
背景 长春新碱诱导的周围神经病变（VIPN）是一种以远端有髓轴突丧失为特征的远端轴索性神经病。本研究旨在通过功能和电子显微镜分析，评估维生素D3在VIPN大鼠模型中的潜在神经再生作用。
方法 总共40只雌性Wistar大鼠被随机分为四个主要组：第1组（对照组，n = 10），第2组（长春新碱组，n = 10），第3组（长春新碱 + 维生素D3组，n = 10），和第4组（长春新碱 + 赋形剂组，n = 10）。以0.15 mg/kg的剂量腹腔注射长春新碱，持续两周，以诱导周围神经病变。成功诱导后，每周应用维生素D3（500 IU/kg/天）和赋形剂治疗，持续四周。进行结构（电子显微镜分析）和功能分析（von Frey试验、捏压试验和电生理分析）以评估周围神经损伤后的功能恢复情况。
结果 维生素D3治疗组对机械性异常性疼痛和捏压试验的撤药反应显著更高（P < 0.05）。电生理分析也支持这些结果。电子显微镜评估显示，维生素D3治疗组（第3组）的再髓鞘化神经纤维具有厚的髓鞘和正常的轴突形态。
结论 我们的研究表明，维生素D3可以促进VIPN大鼠模型的功能和结构恢复。应使用替代给药方案进行进一步研究，以阐明维生素D3在VIPN中发挥其再生作用的潜在机制。
