Affiliations: Neuroscience Research Group, Armed Forces Hospital, P.
O. Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Mohammad Tariq, PhD, FRCPath, FRSC,
Con-sultant and Head, Research Center, Armed Forces Hospital, P.O. Box 7897
(W-912), Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia. Fax: +966 1 4700 576
Abstract: Purpose: Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) is a substituted
dithiocarbamate that is metabolically interconvertible with disulfiram
(Ant-abuse). In recent years DEDC has received considerable attention because
of its clinical applications and potential role in mediating both the toxic and
therapeutic actions of disulfiram which is frequently used for alcohol aversion
therapy. DEDC is known for its multiplicity of action that exerts both pro- and
antioxidant effects. In rodents DEDC has been shown to produce neuroprotective
as well as neurotoxic effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the
effect of DEDC on neurological recovery following sciatic nerve crush injury
(SNCI) in rats. Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were subjected to SNCI with a
haemostat under deep anaesthesia. The animals were orally treated with DEDC at
the doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 750 mg/kg body weight 1 hr before SNCI
and then once daily for 60 days. The animals were observed for sciatic
functional index (walking deficit), electrophysiological and histological
changes. Vitamin E level was measured to deter-mine antioxidant status of
sciatic nerve. Results: Crush injury to the sciatic nerve resulted in a
significant impairment of functional response which gradually recovered over a
period of 22 days. Treatment of animals with DEDC caused a significant delay in
functional recovery which was accompanied by poor histo-logical and
electrophysiological outcome. Prooxidant effect of DEDC is quite evident from a
significant decrease in vitamin E levels in both injured and uninjured sciatic
nerves. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that exposure to DEDC adversely
affects recovery from peripheral nerve injury. The delay may to some extent be
attributed to DEDC induced oxidative stress.
Keywords: crush injury, diethyldithiocarbamate, regeneration, sciatic nerve, vitamin E
