Bromocriptine prevents spinal motor neuron death following sciatic nerve transection in neonatal rats

Abstract

Bromocriptine, a potent dopamine D 2 receptor agonist, appears to have neuroprotective actions. In order to investigate the effect of bromocriptine on axotomy-induced cell death, we have examined the survival of spinal motor neurons after sciatic nerve transection in the neonatal rats. Newborn rats were anesthetized with hypothermia. Sciatic nerve was transected near the obturator tendon in the left thigh. Animals were then treated daily with bromocriptine for 14 days with intraperitoneal injections. Control animals received PBS in the same fashion. After the treatment, the number of spinal motor neurons in the L 4–6 was counted. There is approximately a 50% loss of spinal motor neurons in the PBS treated group. By contrast, bromocriptine prevents spinal motor neuron death after axotomy. The motor neuron diameter on the lesioned side is significantly larger in the bromocriptine-treated group. These results are consistent with the possible role of bromocriptine as a survival factor for developing spinal motor neurons.