Neuroprotection by dexpanthenol in a single‑dose methotrexate mouse model

Aim: Methotrexate (MTX) used in ectopic pregnancy can induce neurotoxicity and cognitive deficits. We evaluated whether dexpanthenol (DEX) mitigates anxiety‑/depression‑like behaviors and learning/memory impairment following single‑dose MTX. Materials and Methods: Female mice were assigned to three groups (n=7/group): Control (saline), MTX (40 mg/kg, i.p.), and MTX+DEX (500 mg/kg, i.p., 1 h before MTX). Twenty‑four hours after MTX, animals underwent open field (OF), tail suspension (TST), and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. Data were analyzed by one‑way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test (α=0.05). Results: MTX reduced time spent in the OF center, increased immobility in TST, and lowered the NOR discrimination index. DEX significantly attenuated these MTX‑induced changes, decreasing anxiety‑/depression‑like behaviors and improving cognitive performance. Conclusion: DEX shows neuroprotective effects against single‑dose MTX‑induced behavioral and cognitive deficits in female mice, supporting its potential to mitigate chemotherapy‑related neurotoxicity. Keywords: methotrexate; dexpanthenol; anxiety; depression; cognitive function; mice