Impaired nerve regeneration in streptozotocin-diabetic rats is improved by treatment with gangliosides.
The rate of sciatic nerve regeneration and the effect of ganglioside treatment thereon were studied in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Two experimental protocols were used. In the first, sciatic nerves were crushed at 3 weeks of diabetes and treatment with purified bovine brain gangliosides (10 mg/kg/day ip) was begun the day before crush. In the second, nerves were crushed at 5 weeks of diabetes and treatment was started 7 days before crush. Regeneration was evaluated in both cases with the pinch-reflex test at different time points after crush. In either situation untreated diabetic rats showed a decreased rate of regeneration when compared to untreated nondiabetic rats, with a more severe reduction in 5-week diabetic rats. Ganglioside treatment improved regeneration in the second protocol; untreated diabetic rats had regenerated 10.6 +/- 0.9 mm (mean +/- SEM) at 7 days postcrush, while nerves from ganglioside-treated and control rats had regenerated 16.4 +/- 1.1 and 20.3 +/- 1.0 mm, respectively (n = 9-11, P less than 0.001 for untreated vs ganglioside-treated diabetics with two-way ANOVA). Ganglioside treatment did not alter the rate of regeneration in nondiabetic rats.
Ekström
P A
PA
Department of Zoophysiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Tomlinson
D R
DR
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
D005732:Gangliosides