title: Effects of chronic treatment with a nitric oxide donor on nerve conduction abnormalities and endoneurial blood flow in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
abstract: This study examined the ability of nitrovasodilator treatment with isosorbide dinitrate to prevent the development of reduced nerve conduction velocity and nutritive blood flow in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Two month untreated diabetes caused approximately 23% and 13% reductions in sciatic motor and saphenous nerve sensory conduction velocity (P < 0.001). Isosorbide dinitrate treatment provided 64.6 and 67.6% protection for motor and sensory nerves, respectively (P < 0.01). Sciatic endoneurial nutritive blood flow was measured by microelectrode polarography and a hydrogen clearance technique. After 1 month untreated diabetes, flow was reduced by 41.9% (P < 0.001). Isosorbide dinitrate treatment for 1 month in non-diabetic and diabetic rats significantly increased blood flow (P < 0.01). When between-group variations in blood pressure were taken into account, vascular conductance increased by 29% and 31% in non-diabetic and diabetic rats, respectively (P < 0.01). Thus, nitrovasodilator treatment improves nerve perfusion and function in experimental diabetes, probably by compensating for reduced endothelium-derived nitric oxide release or action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cotter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006614:Hindlimb; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate