J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1998 Oct;16(5):678-681.

The Morphometric changes of Rat Peripheral nerve after Methyl-cobalamin Treatment in Capsaicin Induced Neuropathy

• Lee SS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Methcobalamin was known to act as a methyl donor in DNA metabolism and increase Protein synthesis for nerve regeneration. To determine whether methylcobalamin affects capsaicin induced polyneuropathy in rat sural nerves.
METHODS
On their second day of life, 18 newborn rats were injected subcutaneously with capsaicin(50mg/kg). Ten rats were treated with methylcobalamin(500microgram/kg) and eight rats with normal saline 5 days a week for 12weeks after capsaicin injection. Using morphometry and computer digitization, the number and sloe distribution of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers were evaluated in sural nerves at 13 weeks.
RESULTS
There was significant difference in the number of unmyelinated fibers between two groups(control group 33,321 +/- 15,539/mm2; methylcobalamin group 99,614+/-20,581/mm2. p<0.0001). Methylcobalamin did not change the number and size distribution of'myelinated fibers. The size distribution of'unmyelinated fibers was approximately the same.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that methylcobalamln could increase regeneration of peripheral nerve morphometrically. It appears that methylcobalamin might be one of the useful therapeutic agents in various polyneuropathies.

Keyword

Methylcobalamin; Capsaicin; Polyneuropathy; Morphometry; Unmyelinated fiber

MeSH Terms

Animals
Capsaicin*
DNA
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Metabolism
Myelin Sheath
Nerve Regeneration
Peripheral Nerves*
Polyneuropathies
Rats*
Regeneration
Sural Nerve
Tissue Donors
Capsaicin
DNA