Protective effect of interleukin-3 and erythropoietin on motor neuron death after neonatal axotomy

Yasuo Iwasaki; Ken Ikeda; Yasumitsu Ichikawa; Osamu Igarashi; Kounosuke Iwamoto; Masao Kinoshita

doi:10.1179/016164102101200681

Protective effect of interleukin-3 and erythropoietin on motor neuron death after neonatal axotomy

Neurol Res. 2002 Oct;24(7):643-6. doi: 10.1179/016164102101200681.

Authors

Yasuo Iwasaki¹, Ken Ikeda, Yasumitsu Ichikawa, Osamu Igarashi, Kounosuke Iwamoto, Masao Kinoshita

Affiliation

¹ The Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. yaso@med.toho-u.ac.jp

PMID: 12392198
DOI: 10.1179/016164102101200681

Abstract

Several members of hematopoietic factors are known to have neuroprotective effects against axotomized motor neuron death. We carried out a study to determine whether interleukin-3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO) rescue spinal motor neuron death following axotomy. Unilateral sciatic nerve was transected in neonatal rats. Different doses of IL-3, EPO, or vehicle were administered daily for two weeks by intraperitoneal injection. After treatment, the number of spinal motor neurons was determined at the level of L4 segment In comparison with vehicle, both IL-3 (10 microg kg(-1)) and EPO (5.0 mg kg(-1)) significantly prevented the loss of motor neurons. Protective potentials is the same between them. These results suggest that IL-3 and EPO play a role for motor neuron survival in vivo and suggest the potential use of these hematopoietic factors in treating diseases that involve degeneration and death of motor neurons, such as motor neuropathy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn
Anterior Horn Cells / drug effects*
Anterior Horn Cells / pathology
Anterior Horn Cells / physiopathology
Axotomy
Cell Count
Cell Death / drug effects*
Cell Death / physiology
Cell Survival / drug effects
Cell Survival / physiology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Erythropoietin / pharmacology*
Interleukin-3 / pharmacology*
Motor Neuron Disease / drug therapy*
Motor Neuron Disease / metabolism
Motor Neuron Disease / physiopathology
Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Retrograde Degeneration / drug therapy
Retrograde Degeneration / physiopathology
Retrograde Degeneration / prevention & control
Sciatic Nerve / drug effects
Sciatic Nerve / injuries
Sciatic Nerve / surgery
Sciatic Neuropathy / drug therapy
Sciatic Neuropathy / metabolism
Sciatic Neuropathy / physiopathology

Substances

Interleukin-3
Neuroprotective Agents
Erythropoietin