Effects of Duloxetine in rat peripheral nerve injury model

Introduction: The pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury includes extremely complicated processes of degeneration and regeneration. Several studies were conducted to augment the regeneration. The effects of duloxetine for peripheral nerve damage, whose neuroprotective and restorative effects are well established for central nervous system were observed within this study.Materials and Method: Subjects consisting of 36 rats were divided into sham operation, control and experiment groups and peripheral nerve injury model was performed on sciatic nerves. Effects of three-day consecutive duloxetine delivered intraperitoneally were investigated in this model. Assessments were done at 1st and 6th weeks via axon count and measurement of myelin thickness histomorphologically, surface and needle electrode CMAP amplitude records electrophysiologically and measurement of wet muscle weights.Results: Duloxetine has not posed a positive contribution on peripheral nerve regeneration. Furthermore, it led to a decrease in myelin thickness and increase of muscle mass shrinkage, despite an increase in axon count in long term follow-up. It didn?t show up a remarkable effect on electrophysiological assessments.