Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (8): 821-827.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.131598

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Potential risk of mitomycin C at high concentrations on peripheral nerve structure

Tao Sui 1, Jinhong Zhang 2, Shihao Du 1, Changhui Su 3, Jun Que 4, Xiaojian Cao 1   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
    2 Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
    3 Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical College, Taishan, Shandong Province, China
    4 Department of Intensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2014-03-21 Online:2014-04-25 Published:2014-04-25
  • Contact: Xiaojian Cao, Ph.D., Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China, xiaojiancao@gmail.com.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.  81171694, 81201374, 81371968, 81371969; a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions; and the Nature Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province No. BK2012718, BK2011844.

Abstract:

Although the local application of mitomycin C may prevent epidural adhesion after laminectomy, mitomycin C can induce neurotoxicity in optic and acoustic nerves at high concentrations. To determine the safe concentration range for mitomycin C, cotton pads soaked with mitomycin C at different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mg/mL) were immediately applied for 5 minutes to the operation area of rats that had undergone laminectomy at L1. Rat sciatic nerves, instead of dorsal nerves, were used in this study. The results showed that mitomycin C at 0.1–0.5 mg/mL did not damage the structure and function of the sciatic nerve, while at 0.7 mg/mL, mitomycin C significantly reduced the thickness of the sciatic nerve myelin sheath compared with lower concentrations, though no functional change was found. These experimental findings indicate that the local application of mitomycin C at low concentrations is safe to prevent scar adhesion following laminectomy, but that mitomycin C at high concentrations (> 0.7 mg/mL) has potential safety risks to peripheral nerve structures.

Key words: nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, mitomycin C, myelin sheath, laminectomy, electrophysiology, nerve function,  , NSFC grant, neural regeneration