Ps. Vandam et al., EFFECTS OF INSULIN-TREATMENT ON ENDONEURIAL AND SYSTEMIC OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RELATION TO NERVE-CONDUCTION IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS, European journal of clinical investigation, 26(12), 1996, pp. 1143-1149
Citations number
50
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Research & Experimental","Medicine, General & Internal
As increased oxidative stress is probably a pathogenetic factor in the
development of diabetic complications, we studied nerve function and
endogenous antioxidants in plasma, erythrocytes and sciatic nerve of u
ntreated and insulin-treated streptozotocin-diabetic rats. After 18 we
eks, the diabetes-induced sciatic nerve conduction velocity deficits w
ere approximately 65% improved by insulin (P < 0.001). Plasma superoxi
de dismutase was significantly reduced in diabetes (P < 0.01); smaller
decreases in plasma catalase and glutathione levels were observed. Th
ese changes were corrected by insulin treatment. In erythrocytes, decr
eased superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and increased total glutathione
levels (P < 0.05) were found. All effects of diabetes, including a ris
e in plasma malonyldialdehyde (P < 0.05), were partially reversed by i
nsulin treatment. In nervous tissue, diabetes caused increased catalas
e activity, uninfluenced by insulin (P < 0.05). Nerve superoxide dismu
tase and glutathione did not change. The data suggest that, in diabete
s, changes in systemic rather than endoneurial oxidative stress lead t
o nerve dysfunction.