Glucose prevents cisplatin-induced fatigue-like behavior in mice

Abstract

Fatigue is recognized as one of the most common and distressing side effects of cancer and anticancer therapy. In the present study, we used mice without cancer to examine the specific influence of chemotherapy on fatigue. Mice were administered a single dose of cisplatin (CDDP; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline as a control, and then were treated with glucose (500 or 5000 mg/kg p.o.), olive oil (10 ml/kg p.o.), or saline daily for 4 days. At 24 h after the final dose of glucose, olive oil, or saline, fatigue-like behavior was investigated by assessment of running activity on a treadmill. After administration of CDDP, running activity of mice decreased significantly. In addition, mice treated with CDDP showed significant weight loss compared with control mice. In CDDP-treated mice, daily administration of glucose caused a significant and dose-dependent increase of both the liver glycogen content and running activity. Although blood glucose levels were higher in the CDDP + olive oil group than in the CDDP + saline group, daily administration of olive oil did not increase either liver glycogen or running activity. These results suggest that maintenance of the liver glycogen content prevented fatigue-like behavior in mice after administration of CDDP.