Nerve growth factor prevention of aged-rat sympathetic neuron injury by cisplatin, vincristine and taxol - in vitro explant study

We examined the preventive effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) against neu rotoxicity induced in aged rats by anticancer drugs such as cisplatin, vinc ristine and taxol using a superior cervical ganglion explant culture system . The inhibition of neurite outgrowth by cisplatin, vincristine and taxol w as markedly prevented by co-treatment with NGF. The neurite and nerve cell populations were well preserved in vincristine and taxol, whereas cisplatin reduced these populations as compared with control even when treated with NGF. These results indicate that, just as in young adult rats, NGF prevents toxic sympathetic nerve injury induced by vincristine and taxol even in ag ed rats, but dose not protect against cisplatin-induced nerve cell injury. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.