[Discussion on the relationship between pathological changes of sciatic nerve and Sarm1 protein expression in rats...

Objective: To explore the potential evidence of active peripheral nerve necrosis when n-hexane produces toxic effects on peripheral nerves. Methods: In May 2023, 36 SPF grade SD male rats with a body weight of 200-220 g were divided into 4 groups with 9 rats in each group and given normal saline and different doses of n-hexane (168, 675, 2 700 mg/kg) by gavage for 6 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Three rats in each group were killed at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week, respectively. The spinal cord to sciatic nerve tissue was broken and the supernatant was extracted for SDS-PAGE protein isolation. The expression level of Sarm1 protein was analyzed with the β-Actin color strip of internal reference protein by Western blot. The expression of Sarm1 protein was analyzed by the gray ratio of the two. At the 6th week, the sciatic nerve sections of the each group were observed by light microscope and electron microscope. Results: The number of axons was obviously reduced by light microscopy. According to electron microscope, myelin lesions were mainly local disintegration, deformation, and different thickness. The deformation of axonal surface became smaller. The axons in the nerve bundle membrane showed degeneration and reduction. The gray ratio of Sarm1 protein and internal reference protein bands in each group had no significant change at the second week of exposure, and the ratio of SARM1 protein to internal reference protein bands was 1.47 in the high dose group at the fourth week, and 1.51 and 1.89 in the middle and high dose group at the sixth week, respectively. Conclusion: Waller's degeneration was observed in sciatic neuropathologic manifestations of n-hexane-poisoned rats, and the expression level of Sarm1 protein increased.