Effects of Crocin and Azithromycin and their co-administration on experimental model of sciatic nerve injury in rats

Abstract

Abstract Background: Although peripheral nerve injury is not life-threatening, it causes significant disability. Following these damages, ischemia and inflammatory processes occur, resulting in neurological dysfunction. Several medications have been explored in order to alleviate the symptoms of peripheral nerve injury. This study aimed to investigate how crocin and azithromycin affected sciatic nerve crush injuries in rats. Methods: Five groups were established using 35 adult male rats: Control, Lesion, Azithromycin (AZ), Crocin (CR), and AZ+CR. Except for the control group, sciatic nerve injury was surgically induced in every other group. For seven days, azithromycin and crocin were administered. Following the completion of biochemical and behavioral evaluations, sections of sciatic nerve were stained in preparation for immunohistochemical and histological analysis. Results: The healing process of sciatic nerve injury was expedited in all experiments by both azithromycin and crocin. However, the efficacy of crocin treatment was more pronounced in comparison to that of azithromycin. Crocin was found to be less efficacious than combination therapy involving AZ and CR, as determined by SFI, hot plate, and immunohistochemical analyses. In the remaining evaluations, however, no significant difference existed between the AZ+CR and CR groups. Conclusion: The recovery process of sciatic nerve injury in rats was enhanced by both crocin and azithromycin; however, the effect of crocin treatment was stronger in the animals. In comparison to the crocin group, combination therapy with azithromycin and crocin did not produce a significant difference in the majority of aspects.