title: Pharmacological evaluation of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons as an in vitro model for diabetic neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus that develops in about 50% of people with diabetes. Despite its widespread occurrence and devastating effects, this complication is still not fully understood, and there is no treatment available to prevent its development.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, immunocytochemistry for activating transcription factor 3, a marker for cell injury, was used to investigate the stress response in dorsal root ganglion neurons in both in vitro and ex vivo models of diabetic neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed increased activating transcription factor 3 expression in hyperglycemic culture conditions and in dorsal root ganglion neurons isolated from diabetic rats. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, a substance with known neuroprotective properties, was able to reduce diabetes mellitus-induced neuronal stress in vitro, while gabapentin and carbamazepine, currently used to treat neuropathic pain, showed only limited effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Growth factors may have a therapeutic benefit as neurotrophic agents in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but gabapentin and carbamazepine have no direct protective effect on sensory neurons. This research also indicates that immunocytochemistry for activating transcription factor 3 is a valuable tool for evaluation of pharmacological substances in dorsal root ganglion cultures.
authors.affiliation: Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium;
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peeraer
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Lutsenborg
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verheyen
authors.forename: Raf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Jongh
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuydens
authors.forename: Theo F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Meert