ATPases and lipid peroxidation in the rat sciatic nerve in the course of experimental neoplastic disease

Peripheral nerve involvement in the course of neoplastic disease represents a clinically significant complication, with clinical uncertainties raising questions as to its pathophysiology. The aim of this study was the analysis of ATPase activities, lipid peroxidation and sulfhydryl groups in the sciatic nerve of tumor-bearing rats. We investigated also morphometric features of the sciatic nerve of experimental animals. An increase was noted in Na+/K+-ATPase and Mg+2-ATPase activities and elevation of conjugated diene and malonyldialdehyde contents, associated with a decrease in sulfhydryl groups in Morris-hepatoma-bearing rats. The morphometric evaluation revealed myelin sheath thickening, associated with an increase in axon cross-section area and degenerative changes in dorsal horns.In this study, the moderate lipid peroxidation in experimental neoplastic disease was demonstrated to lead to depletion of sulfhydryl groups in the degenerating rat sciatic nerve which was associated with stimulation of ATPase activities.