title: High rat food vitamin E content improves nerve function in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
abstract: Antioxidants can improve nerve dysfunction in hyperglycaemic rats. We evaluated whether the standard supplementation of rat food with vitamin E (normally added for preservation purposes) or high-dose vitamin E treatment improves nerve conduction in maturing streptozotocin-diabetic rats, a model widely used to study diabetic neuropathy. Hyperglycaemic rats received food containing 25 mg/kg (non-supplemented), 70 mg/kg (standard food) or 12 g/kg (high-dose) vitamin E. Non-diabetic controls received non-supplemented food. Sciatic and tibial sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity were decreased in all diabetic animals. In comparison with standard feeding, the non-supplemented diabetic rats showed lower plasma vitamin E levels but no significant change in nerve conduction. High-dose treatment prevented nerve dysfunction by 50%, and led to attenuated endoneurial lipid peroxidation (measured as malondialdehyde). We conclude that high doses of vitamin E, but not standard vitamin E supplementation of rat food partially prevent nerve dysfunction in young adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. p.s.vandam@digd.azu.nl
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bravenboer
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: van Asbeck
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gispen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005527:Food, Fortified; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D013311:Streptozocin