Peripheral neuroglial death induced by cisplatin administration in newbornrats

To determine the target of cytotoxicity of cisplatin (CDDP), we injected ne wborn rats with 2 mg/kg CDDP and examined the trigeminal ganglion for possi ble cell death. A nick translation method for DNA fragmentation revealed CD DP-induced glial cell death. DNA fragmentation was detected in both schwann cells and satellite cells. Satellite cell death was observed as early as 0 .5 day after injection, most frequent at 1-3 days and subsided thereafter. The incidence of neuronal death was very low and comparable to that observe d in vehicle control rats. CDDP has selective toxicity to peripheral glial cells, though the damage did not culminate in cell death in adults. The gli al toxicity may contribute to clinical symptoms of CDDP neuropathy. NeuroRe port 12:137-140 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.