rhGGF2 protects against cisplatin-induced neuropathy in the rat

In many patients treated with cisplatin a peripheral sensory neuropathy dev elops. This side-effect is considered dose-limiting, and therefore restrict s the total dose of cisplatin that can be administered. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that recombinant human Glial Growth Factor 2 (rhGG F2) has neuroprotective effects. This prompted us to investigate in a vat m odel whether rhGGF2 ameliorates cisplatin neuropathy. A total of 48 rats we re randomly divided into four groups of 12 rats each. Three groups received cisplatin and were treated with either 0.1 mg/kg rhGGF2, 0.3 mg/kg rhGGF2 or placebo. The fourth group (saline/placebo) sewed as age-matched controls . In the cisplatin/placebo treated vats a neuropathy developed, as determin ed by measurements of the nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Treatment with r hGGF2 dose-dependently protected against the neuropathy. Histological exami nation and morphometric analysis revealed that rhGGF2 also protects against cisplatin-induced changes in the morphology and size of DRG satellite cell nuclei. In a control study rhGGF2 did not affect normal NCV development. W e conclude that rhGGF2 treatment is of benefit in the treatment of cisplati n neuropathy in the vat. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.