Research article

Effect of Zofenopril on regeneration of sciatic nerve crush injury in a rat model

Ali Murat Kalender¹ , Ali Dogan² , Vedat Bakan³ , Huseyin Yildiz⁴ , Mehmet Ata Gokalp² and Mahmut Kalender⁵

¹  Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Medical Faculty, K. Maras, Turkey

²  Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Yuzuncu Yil University, Medical Faculty, Van, Turkey

³  Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

⁴  Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

⁵  Gaziantep Medical Center, Gaziantep, Turkey

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury 2009, 4:6doi:10.1186/1749-7221-4-6

Published:	9 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Zofenopril is an antioxidant agent which has been shown to have beneficial effects in hypertension and heart failure. The aim of this study was to test the effects of Zofenopril on nerve regeneration and scarring in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury.

Methods

Twenty-one adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a surgical procedure involving right sciatic nerve crush injury. 15 mg/kg Zofenopril was administered orally to seven rats in group Z for seven days. Seven rats in group S received saline orally for seven days. Seven rats in the control group C received no drug after crush injury. Fourteenth and 42nd days after injury, functional and electromyography assessments of nerves were performed. Functional recovery was analyzed using a walking track assessment, and quantified using the sciatic functional index (SFI). After these evaluations, all rats were sacrificed and microscopic evaluations were performed.

Results

The Sciatic functional Index (SFI) in group Z on 14^th day is different significantly from group S and group C (p = 0.037). But on 42^nd day there was no difference between groups (p = 0.278). The statistical analyses of electromyelographic (EMG) studies showed that the latency in group Z is significantly different from group S (p = 0.006) and group C (p = 0.045). But on 42^nd day there was no difference between groups like SFI (p = 0.147). The amplitude was evaluated better in group Z than others (p < 0.05). In microscopic evaluation, we observed the highest number of nerve regeneration in the group Z and the lowest in the group C. But it was not significant statistically.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that Zofenopril promotes the regeneration of peripheral nerve injuries in rat models.