Protective effects of oxytocin and progesterone on paclitaxel-induced neuropathy in rats

Objective: Paclitaxel (Ptx), used to treat cancer, still causes neuropathic pain and peripheral neuropathy today. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of progesterone (Pg) and oxytocin (Oxy) on peripheral neuropathy rat model induced by Ptx. Materials and Methods: A total of 38 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, e.g., control (n = 6), Ptx (n = 8), Ptx + Oxy (n = 8), Ptx + Pg (n = 8), and Ptx + Oxy + Pg (n = 8). The rats were monitored daily for body weight change throughout the experiment. To evaluate peripheral neuropathy, electroneuromyography measurements (latency, amplitude, and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV)) were recorded from the sciatic nerve innervating the gastrocnemius muscle. Sciatic nerve tissue samples were collected for histopathological evaluation. Results: Ptx led to significant reductions in body weight from day 6 (P < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in the distal latency and amplitudes (P > 0.05). Proximal latency was prolonged in Ptx group rats than in other groups (P < 0.05). Importantly, it was found that MNCV was higher in the Ptx + Pg group than Ptx, Ptx + Oxy, and Ptx + Oxy + Pg groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Pg-administered rats had the lowest nerve degeneration compared to rats administered Oxy and Oxy + Pg (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The present findings suggest that Pg has a protective effect on peripheral neuropathy induced by Ptx in rat.