Elevated expression of neurotrophin-3 mRNA in sensory nerve of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
Decreased expression of NT-3 mRNA in the sciatic nerve and leg muscles of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats has been associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to determine whether STZ-induced diabetes also affects the expression of NT-3 mRNA in the central and peripheral projections of sensory nerves. Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (cRT-PCR) was used to quantify the levels of NT-3 mRNA in the dorsal root, sural nerve, sciatic nerve and foot skin of age-matched and 12-week STZ-diabetic rats. Diabetes increased by 52% (P < 0.05) the expression of NT-3 mRNA in the dorsal root and sural nerve. It is proposed that diabetes-induced sensory nerve damage may elevate NT-3 mRNA production which may act as a source of neurotrophic support for sensory axons whose target-derived supply of NT-3 may be impaired.
Cai
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Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
Tomlinson
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DR
Fernyhough
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D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001786:Blood Glucose; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger