Topical axonal transport blocker vincristine prevents nerve injury-induced spinal neuron sensitization in rats.

The effect of vincristine (Vin, a fast axonal transport blocker) to prevent any alteration in the excitability of dorsal horn neurons, following peripheral nerve injury, was investigated on 31 rats: 20 with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and 11 sham preparations. In 15 of the 20 CCI rats, a small piece of gelfoam soaked with Vin was applied to the sciatic nerve before ligation (Vin+); in the remaining 5 rats the nerve was ligated without Vin (Vin-). The 11 sham rats were 7 Vin+ and 4 Vin-.