Evaluation and Comparison of the Effects of Artesunate, Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus in the Sciatic Nerve Regeneration

Publication date: Available online 29 December 2018

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Tugcenur Uzun, Orcun Toptas, Aslihan Saylan, Hande Carver, Sule Aydın Turkoglu

Abstract

Objective

To examine the effect of topical artesunate treatment on peripheral nerve regeneration and compare it with the effect of topical tacrolimus and of dexamethasone on nerve regeneration.

Materials and method

A total of 32 Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into six groups: sham, saline (sal), petrolatum (pet), artesunate (art), tacrolimus (tac), and dexamethasone (dex). A compression injury was generated in the right sciatic nerve in all groups except for the sham group. In the sham group, the nerve was only dissected but compression was not applied. In the groups in which compression was applied, the agents were absorbed via resorbable gelatin sponges applied to the injured region. At the end of 4 weeks, walking analysis, electromyographic measurements and histopathological examinations were conducted.

Findings

When the sciatic function index and electrophysiological measurements were evaluated, artesunate, tacrolimus and dexamethasone had positive effects on nerve regeneration of (p< .05); there were no significant differences between these three agents(p> .05). Upon histopathologic examination, we found that artesunate decreased fibrosis scores and inflammation and increased the diameter of myelinated axons; tacrolimus decreased fibroblast scores and dexamethasone only decreased fibrosis scores (p< .05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that artesunate and dexamethasone gave more positive immunoreactivity to NGF (nerve growth factor) than did the saline group (p< .05).

Conclusion

Topical artesunate treatment had a positive effect on peripheral nerve regeneration. There were no significant differences between the topical forms of dexamethasone and tacrolimus on peripheral nerve regeneration.

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