<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Mildronate, previously known as a cardioprotective drug, recently was found to normalise mitochondrial processes by preventing the dysfunction of complex I in rat liver mitochondria. Previously we have shown also the ability of mildronate to prevent pathologies in the central nervous system by normalizing the expression of different signalling molecules in brain tissue. This allowed us to suggest that mildronate may possess a beneficial role also in peripheral nervous system pathologies. The present study was designed to assess the peripheral tissue damage caused by anti-HIV drug stavudine, as well as pain and inflammation caused by formalin. For this demonstration, we investigated the influence of mildronate: (1) on decreased myelin expression and increased neuron degeneration in rat sciatic nerve tissue caused by stavudine; and (2) on formalin-induced inflammation in mice. We found that mildronate protected the stavudine-induced degeneration of neurons in rat peripheral sciatic nerve without a significant influence on demyelination. In a formalin test, mildronate showed anti-inflammatory action comparable to that of indomethacin, a reference drug. The present results show that mildronate is capable of regulating peripheral nerve damage and peripheral inflammatory responses. We suggest that the multifunctional effects of mildronate can be attributed to its ability to regulate mitochondrial processes. The obtained data indicate protective effects of mildronate in different peripheral neurological pathologies.</p></abstract>

Mildronate, previously known as a cardioprotective drug, recently was found to normalise mitochondrial processes by preventing the dysfunction of complex I in rat liver mitochondria. Previously we have shown also the ability of mildronate to prevent pathologies in the central nervous system by normalizing the expression of different signalling molecules in brain tissue. This allowed us to suggest that mildronate may possess a beneficial role also in peripheral nervous system pathologies. The present study was designed to assess the peripheral tissue damage caused by anti-HIV drug stavudine, as well as pain and inflammation caused by formalin. For this demonstration, we investigated the influence of mildronate: (1) on decreased myelin expression and increased neuron degeneration in rat sciatic nerve tissue caused by stavudine; and (2) on formalin-induced inflammation in mice. We found that mildronate protected the stavudine-induced degeneration of neurons in rat peripheral sciatic nerve without a significant influence on demyelination. In a formalin test, mildronate showed anti-inflammatory action comparable to that of indomethacin, a reference drug. The present results show that mildronate is capable of regulating peripheral nerve damage and peripheral inflammatory responses. We suggest that the multifunctional effects of mildronate can be attributed to its ability to regulate mitochondrial processes. The obtained data indicate protective effects of mildronate in different peripheral neurological pathologies.

Mildronate's protective effects in the peripheral nervous system: stavudine-induced neuropathy and formalin-induced inflammation

Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Šarlotes iela 1A, Rīga, LV-1001, LATVIA

Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles iela 21, Rīga, LV-1006, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

Mildronate, previously known as a cardioprotective drug, recently was found to normalise mitochondrial processes by preventing the dysfunction of complex I in...

Mildronate's protective effects in the peripheral nervous system: stavudine-induced neuropathy and formalin-induced inflammation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2011

Page range: 114 - 118

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-010-0032-7

Keywords
mildronate, formalin-induced inflammation, stavudine toxicity, sciatic nerve

This content is open access.

Mildronate's protective effects in the peripheral nervous system: stavudine-induced neuropathy and formalin-induced inflammation

Published Online: Jan 25, 2011

Page range: 114 - 118

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-010-0032-7

Keywordsmildronate, formalin-induced inflammation, stavudine toxicity, sciatic nerve

This content is open access.

Keywords
mildronate, formalin-induced inflammation, stavudine toxicity, sciatic nerve