PREVENTION OF ABNORMALITIES IN MOTOR-NERVE CONDUCTION AND NERVE BLOOD-FLOW BY A PROSTACYCLIN ANALOG, BERAPROST SODIUM, IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS
N. Hotta et al., PREVENTION OF ABNORMALITIES IN MOTOR-NERVE CONDUCTION AND NERVE BLOOD-FLOW BY A PROSTACYCLIN ANALOG, BERAPROST SODIUM, IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS, Prostaglandins, 49(6), 1995, pp. 339-349
The effects of the prostacyclin analog beraprost sodium on motor nerve
function and nerve blood-flow were examined in streptozotocin-induced
diabetic rats. Oral administration of beraprost sodium 0.1 mg/kg/day
for 8 wks significantly (P < 0.001) improved caudal motor nerve conduc
tion velocity and sciatic nerve blood-flow both of which are impaired
in diabetic rats. Beraprost sodium did not affect glucose, sorbitol, o
r fructose levels in the sciatic nerve. However, a decreased content o
f cyclic AMP in the sciatic nerve and higher level of thromboxane B-2
in the thoracic aorta of diabetic rats, as compared with those in norm
al rats, were reversed by the treatment with beraprost sodium (P < 0.0
1). Results suggest that beraprost sodium may have value in treating d
iabetic neuropathy, mainly by improving endoneurial blood-flow.