An experimental model for peripheral neuropathy produced by paclitaxel

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Paclitaxel is an effective anti-cancer drug. However, it can induce peripheral neuropathy in humans. We investigated the occurrence of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy in humans and attempted to construct an animal model that could be used to elucidate the clinical symptoms of neuropathic pain as well as the mechanism of its occurrence. We administered paclitaxel directly to the left sciatic nerve in rats and carried out behavioral tests bilaterally every week for four weeks. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of the each paclitaxel, another with cremophor EL, a third with physiological saline solution, and the last received paclitaxel injections in the muscle. The sciatic nerve of all of the rats was exposed, and enclosed in a neural silicon tube which was fitted with an internal silicon catheter. The catheter was connected to an osmotic pump secured in the peritoneal cavity. In the paclitaxel group, although cold allodynia was demonstrated in some rats, there was no mechano allodynia. The mechano hyperalgesia test, revealed that six of the ten rats did not have a hind paw withdrawal response. These effects developed only on the left side and there were no change on the right. No effects were seen in the other three groups. We feel that the paclitaxel model that we developed can be of value in future research on neuropathic pain.