Nerve growth factor prevents neurotoxic effects of cisplatin, vincristine and taxol, on adult rat sympathetic ganglion explants in vitro.

Anti-cancer drugs, cisplatin, vincristine and taxol clinically induce toxic sensory as well as autonomic neuropathy. Administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) has been found to prevent experimental sensory neuropathies induced by these anti-cancer drugs, but the information about autonomic neuropathy is lacking. We developed an adult rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) explant culture, which we treated with cisplatin, vincristine and taxol either in the presence or absence of NGF. The maximum length of regenerated neurites was shortened by cisplatin, vincristine and taxol in a dose-dependent manner. However cotreatment with NGF significantly promoted the regeneration of neurites in all drug-treated explants. The effect of NGF was clearly blocked by the anti-NGF antibody. These findings suggest that cotreatment of NGF prevents and reverses the toxic effects of the anti-cancer drugs on the sympathetic neurons.