Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Neuropathic pain and neuropathy is commonly seen after ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of lutein on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced vasculitic neuropathic pain and neuropathy in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An hour before anesthesia, 6 Albino Wistar male rats with I/R were orally administered with 1 mg/kg lutein (LIR group). Two groups of 6 such rats who underwent surgery were provided with 0.5 ml distilled water (as solvent) either via oral administration (SIR group) or by gavage (sham group or SG). One hour following the administration, the later femoral arteries of the LIR and SIR rats were closed using a sterile silk thread and ischemia was induced in the sciatic nerve for 4 h, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. The femoral artery of the SG group was not closed with suture. Next, 1 mg/kg lutein was re-administered only to the LIR group for 1 h, followed by measurement of the paw pain thresholds by the Basile Algesimeter. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), nuclear factor-kB (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the sciatic nerve tissues were measured, and the tissues were histopathologically examined. RESULTS: We found that the MDA, NF-κB, and TNF-α levels were higher and the tGSH level was lower in the SIR group relative to those in the LIR group, and the differences were statistically significant. Significant histopathological damage was noted in the SIR group, whereas the LIR group demonstrated protection from oxidative damage. CONCLUSION: Lutein is potentially useful in the treatment of I/R-related neuropathy and neuropathic pain.