OBJECTIVETo study the changes in microtubule motor protein expression in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rats exposed to carbon disulfide, and to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of changes in axonal transport in carbon disulfide-induced peripheral neuropathy.

METHODSHealthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one control group and three experimental groups (10 rats per group). The rats in experimental groups were intoxicated by gavage of carbon disulfide at a dose of 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg 6 times a week for 6 consecutive weeks, while the rats in control group were given the same volume of corn oil by gavage. Animals were sacrificed after exposure, with nerve tissue separated. The levels of dynein, dynactin, and kinesin in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe content of dynein, dynactin, and kinesin in the sciatic nerve decreased significantly under exposure to carbon disulfide. The levels of dynein in the sciatic nerve were reduced by 23.47% and 33.34% at exposure doses of 400 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of dynactin in the sciatic nerve of the three experimental groups were reduced by 19.91%, 24.23%, and 41.30%, respectively. The level of kinesin was reduced by 25.98%under exposure to 600 mg/kg carbon disulfide. All the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). As compared with the control group, the 600 mg/kg group experienced a 28.24% decrease in level of dynactin in the spinal cord (P < 0.01), but no significant change was observed in the level of dynein or kinesin.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide has an impact on microtubule motor protein expression in nerve tissues, which might be involved in the development of carbon disulfide-induced peripheral neuropathy.