Alterations in mRNA expression of myelin proteins in the sciatic nerves and brains of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes. We examined the levels and the mRNA expression of myelin proteins in the sciatic nerves and the brains of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats exhibited a decrease in body weight, elevation of the blood glucose level and a decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity at 2 weeks after streptozotocin injection. In the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats, the level of P0 protein and its mRNA expression were markedly reduced at 20 weeks after the injection. In the brains, the levels of proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein and their mRNA expression were selectively decreased at 20 weeks after the injection. This affected expression of myelin proteins was found even when no histological abnormalities were detectable. Considering the functional significance of myelin proteins, this impairment of protein expression is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, including that in brain disorders.
Kawashima
Rei
R
Department of Biochemistry, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kojima
Hisako
H
Nakamura
Kazuo
K
Arahata
Atsushi
A
Fujita
Yoshikuni
Y
Tokuyama
Yoshiko
Y
Saito
Toyokazu
T
Furudate
Sen-Ichi
S
Kurihara
Tadashi
T
Yagishita
Saburo
S
Kitamura
Kunio
K
Tamai
Yoichi
Y
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018993:Myelin P0 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018993:Myelin P0 Protein; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger