Current aspects of research on the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy contributes to the long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. Its pathogenesis is still unknown although a host of abnormalities in peripheral nerves in human diabetics and animal models has been discovered. This article emphasizes the current metabolic hypotheses: increased polyol pathway, decreased myoinositol nerve content; altered phospholipid metabolism, decreased Na+/K+ ATPase activity and non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins. Future perspectives relevant to animal and clinical research and new therapeutic aspects are also discussed.
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
D010743:Phospholipids; D007294:Inositol; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase