Investigation of the effects of gabapentin on high glucose-induced neurotoxicity and genotoxicity in an in vitro model of diabetic neuropathy and in silico molecular docking analysis.

BACKGROUND

Gabapentin is the pharmacologic treatment of choice for symptom relief in diabetic neuropathy. However, its effect on high glucose (HG)-induced neurotoxicity and genotoxicity under diabetic neuropathy conditions remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gabapentin on cytogenotoxicity in HG-induced neuropathy in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

METHODS

DRG neurons were isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10). After treatment of these neurons with HG (45 mmol/L) and gabapentin (1,10, 100, and 1000 µM), cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2 H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Furthermore, the effects on DNA damage in DRG neurons exposed to HG (45 mmol/L) and gabapentin (10 and 100 µM) were investigated by comet assay.

RESULTS

When HG + Gabapentin (1 µM), HG + Gabapentin (10 µM), HG + Gabapentin (100 µM), and HG + Gabapentin (1000 µM) groups were compared with the HG group, no statistically significant change in cell viability was determined (p > 0.05). HG + Gabapentin (10 µM) and HG + Gabapentin (100 µM) groups were not statistically significant in genotoxicity compared to HG group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that gabapentin does not modulate HG-induced cytogenotoxicity in HG-exposed DRG neurons. Our findings, which emphasize the safety of gabapentin in diabetic neuropathy, need more detailed studies.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.