Abstract Paclitaxel-induced sensory neuropathy is a problematic side-effect of cancer chemotherapy. Previous studies in rodents have shown paclitaxel treatment to have many effects on different parts of the peripheral nervous system, but those responsible for its bothersome clinical side-effects are still unclear. In the current study, we sought to obtain information about the involvement of sensory neurons in paclitaxel neurotoxicity at the level of the dorsal root ganglion. Rats were treated with a clinically relevant dose of paclitaxel (87.5 mg/m2 weekly for a total of nine doses) to induce a sensory neuropathy; then their L5 dorsal root ganglia were studied by morphometry and immunohistochemistry. Paclitaxel treatment was generally well tolerated, and slowed conduction velocity and prolonged conduction latencies in the peripheral sensory nerves without altering conduction in the central or motor pathways of the H-reflex arc. In the L5 dorsal root ganglion, nucleolus size and the number of neurons with eccentric nuclei were increased only in a subpopulation of dorsal root ganglion neurons with cell body cross-sectional areas greater than 1750 mm2, which made up less than 10% of the total population. Paclitaxel treatment increased immunohistochemical staining for activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), c- Jun and neuropeptide Y (NPY) but only in a small percentage of neuronal cell bodies and mainly in those with large cell bodies. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that nucleolar enlargement, nuclear eccentricity, ATF-3, c-Jun and NPY are neuronal markers of paclitaxel-induced sensory neuropathy, however, these axotomy-like cell body reactions are infrequent and occur in mainly large-sized sensory neurons.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	paclitaxel, neurotoxicity, rat
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Research Field:	Toxicology (incl. clinical toxicology)
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Liu, JJ (Dr Johnson Liu)
ID Code:	89129
Year Published:	2007
Web of Science® Times Cited:	28
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2014-02-25
Last Modified:	2014-08-04
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