Hastening the Sciatic Nerve Recovery through Inhibitation of TNF-α by the Etanercept

As a result of Axonal cruch in peripheral nervous system، extensive and complicated pathways of cytokines are activated. The most important member of these pathways is TNF-α، that is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which its concentration influences on nerve recovery. It is probable that the nerve recovery quickens after employing inhibitors of this protein. In this research 110 rats are categorized into 2 experimental and control groups.. Immediately after crushing the sciatic nerve، 0. 6 mg/Kg of Etanercept was injected to each rat in experimental groups’، interaperitoneally. Saline was also used as a control which was injected to control rats. TNF-α expression extremely increased after nerve crush and Etanercept usage significantly reduced TNF-α expression، a day after nerve crush (p˂0. 001). Nerve recovery based on immunohistochemistry and morphological observations in experimental group was better than the else by comparison. The results suggests that the use of TNF- α’s antagonist after the injury can inhibit TNF-α expression and thereby hastening the nerve recovery.