Vincristine (VCR) administration to rabbits resulted in severe electrophysiologic alterations of peripheral nerves. Sciatic
nerve conduction velocity, compound action potential (CAP) amplitude, and area under the CAP waveform were all reduced in
a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, the pattern of conduction velocity of both motor and sensory fibers was altered and
shifted toward slow conduction classes. Simultaneous treatment with gangliosides limited significantly the changes in electrophysiologic
parameters induced by VCR. It is suggested that gangliosides be given in the clinical setting as protection for the peripheral
nerves against the side effects of antiblastic therapy.
Portions of this work were presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, USA, November
16–21, 1987