EFFECTS OF ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL ON NERVE-CONDUCTION VELOCITY AND REGENERATION FOLLOWING A FREEZE LESION IN IMMATURE DIABETIC RATS

We investigated whether anti-oxidant treatment with alpha-tocopherol ( 1 g kg(-1) day(-1)) could prevent the blunting of the normal maturatio nal increase in motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity when diabe tes is induced by streptozotocin in young rats. A further study in the same rats examined effects on myelinated fibre regeneration distance 14 days after a punctate sciatic nerve lesion by a liquid nitrogen coo led probe. In non-diabetic rats between 8 and 14 weeks of age, sciatic motor and saphenous sensory conduction velocity increased by approxim ately 28% (P < 0.001) and 21% (P < 0.001) respectively. Diabetes induc ed at 8 weeks blunted this maturational change by 65% for sciatic moto r and almost completely for saphenous sensory fibres (P < 0.001). Trea tment with alpha-tocopherol from diabetes induction totally prevented motor conduction velocity deficits (P < 0.001). For sensory saphenous nerve, conduction abnormalities were markedly attenuated (72%, P < 0.0 01) although a significant deficit remained compared to age-matched fi bre regeneration distance, 14 days post lesion, was 15% reduced (P < 0 .001) by untreated diabetes. However, in diabetic rats treated with al pha-tocopherol, regeneration distance was significantly improved (P < 0.001), being within the non-diabetic range. Thus, the data highlight the importance of reactive oxygen species in the aetiology of impaired nerve maturation and regeneration in experimental diabetes and indire ctly support the view that anti-oxidant treatment could have a therape utic role in patients.