MYELIN PROTEIN TRANSCRIPTS INCREASE IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

A Northern blot analysis of P0 and MBP myelin protein transcripts in t he sciatic nerve from rats with alloxan-induced diabetes at two differ ent time points is described. After 5 weeks of diabetes induction, onl y P0 mRNA is significantly increased by 39%, while at 14 weeks both P0 and MBP mRNA contents are markedly higher than controls. Insulin trea tment normalizes glycemia levels, partially counteracts P0 mRNA increa se at both stages of diabetes and delays MBP mRNA increase present onl y in chronic animals. We suggest that increased transcript levels of P 0 and MBP in Schwann cells may represent a higher turnover of myelin s heath specific proteins in diabetic syndrome, as attempt to repair the hyperglycemia-induced nerve damage, which is partially prevented by i nsulin treatment.