title: Long-term suppression of postprandial hyperglycaemia with acarbose retards the development of neuropathies in the BB/W-rat.
abstract: The effect of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on postprandial hyperglycaemia was explored in the spontaneously diabetic BB/W-rat. Acarbose-treatment (5 mg.kg body weight-1.day-1) of diabetic BB/W-rats maintained on small doses of insulin, was associated with a 40% reduction in the 24-h glucose area compared to non-treated diabetic rats. Over a 4 month treatment period this reduction in cumulative hyperglycaemia resulted in a complete prevention of autonomic polyneuropathy as indicated by R-BAR values. The development of somatic polyneuropathy in the BB/W-rat was significantly attenuated by acarbose treatment with a partial prevention of the characteristic nerve conduction velocity slowing during the first 3 months of diabetes, but no longer at 4 months. Characteristic structural abnormalities associated with diabetes in this model, such as axonal atrophy and axo-glial dysjunction, were significantly but only partially prevented in rats treated with acarbose for a diabetes duration of 4 months. These data suggest that postprandial lowering of hyperglycaemia resulting in a decrease in cumulative hyperglycaemia retards the development of diabetic polyneuropathies in the BB/W-rat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004435:Eating; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D014312:Trisaccharides; D020909:Acarbose