Effect of two different cytoprotectives, ethiofos and β-NGF, on cisplatin-induced toxicity in Schwann cell cultures; a preliminary study

Two cytoprotective agents, ethiofos (WR2721) and nerve growth factor (NGF), were used to diminish cisplatin-induced toxicity in Schwann cell cultures. The effect of both studied agents was estimated by a micronucleus test and the comet assay. The comet assay was performed in cultured human Schwann cells isolated from sural nerve biopsies, and the micronucleus test was used in primary cultures of Schwann cells isolated from foetal rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG). A dose-dependent increase in the number of cells displaying DNA damage was found at both concentrations of cisplatin, 0.5 and 1.0 μM. No significant protective effect of either β-NGF or WR-2721 was observed in human Schwann cell cultures. A significant protective effect was obtained in the cultures of Schwann cells isolated from foetal rat DRG, when treated simultaneously with 0.5 μM cisplatin and 10 ng/ml β-NGF. WR-2721 was not effective in these cells.