OBJECTIVETo explore the role of cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in 2, 5-hexanedione (HD)-induced neuropathy.

METHODSThirty male Wistar rats weighted 200 approximately 240 g were divided randomly into three groups, i.e. control group, 200 mg/kg HD group and 400 mg/kg HD group (n = 10 for each group). HD was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection at dosage of 200 or 400 mg/kg for 8 weeks (five times per week) to establish the intoxicated rats model. The relative contents of CDK5, p35 and p25 were determined in cerebrum, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rats by Western Blotting.

RESULTSCompared with that of the control group rats, p35 contents were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the cytosolic fractions of cerebrum and spinal cord in both the 200 and 400 mg/kg HD intoxicated rats, while in the membrane fractions of spinal cord and sciatic nerve, p35 contents were increased significantly (P < 0.01). The changes of p25 showed the same pattern with p35. P25 contents were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the cytosolic (cerebrum and spinal cord) and membrane (cerebrum) fractions of both HD-treated rats and were elevated (P < 0.01) in the membrane fraction of spinal cord and cytosolic fraction of sciatic nerve. The relative amounts of CDK5 were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the cytosolic and membrane fractions of cerebrum in both the 200 and 400 mg/kg HD intoxicated rats. Except for membrane fraction of sciatic nerve, the significant increased (P < 0.01) of CDK5 were observed in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve of both the 200 and 400 mg/kg HD treated rats.

CONCLUSIONHD can induce significant changes of CDK5 and its activators p35, p25 in nerve tissues, which may be related to the neuropathy induced by HD.