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The effects of picric acid (2,4,6-trinitrophenol) and a bite-deterrent chemical (denatonium benzoate) on autotomy in rats after peripheral nerve lesion

Abstract

Denervation of the hind limb is a technique used to study peripheral nerve regeneration. Autotomy or autophagia is an undesirable response to denervation in such studies. Application of a commercially available lotion used to deter nail biting in humans reduced autotomy in rats after denervation but did not completely prevent it. In this study, this authors evaluated the application of picric acid to prevent autotomy in rats in peripheral nerve experiments. They carried out sciatic nerve transection in 41 adult female Wistar rats and then applied either bite-deterrent lotion (n = 26) or saturated picric acid solution (n = 15) topically to the affected hind limb immediately after surgery and every day for 1 month. Autotomy scores were lower for rats treated with picric acid than for rats treated with bite-deterrent lotion 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery but were not different between the two groups 4 weeks after surgery. The authors conclude that application of picric acid could be used as an alternative strategy to prevent autotomy in peripheral nerve studies.

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Figure 1: Autotomy scoring system.
Figure 2: Autotomy after sciatic nerve transection.
Figure 3: Autotomy scores (mean ± s.e.) in rats treated with bite-deterrent lotion (n = 26) or with picric acid (n = 15) at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after sciatic nerve transection.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Soheil Saadat, MD, MPH, PhD (Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Centre, Sina Hospital) for his collaboration in statistical analysis and Mrs. Bita Pourmand (Research Development Center, Sina Hospital) for her careful editing.

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Correspondence to Masoumeh Firouzi.

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Firouzi, M., Firouzi, M., Nabian, M. et al. The effects of picric acid (2,4,6-trinitrophenol) and a bite-deterrent chemical (denatonium benzoate) on autotomy in rats after peripheral nerve lesion. Lab Anim 44, 141–145 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.711

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