title: Diabetes increases mechanical sensitivity and causes morphological abnormalities in the sural nerve that are prevented by treadmill training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this investigation we evaluated the effects of treadmill training on mechanical sensitivity and sural nerve morphology in diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into 3 groups: control (C); diabetic (D); and trained diabetic (TD). Training was performed for 8 weeks. Mechanical sensitivity was evaluated using von Frey filaments. Sural nerve analysis included fiber area, diameter, density of myelinated fibers, area occupied by connective tissue, myelin sheath thickness, and g-ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals in the D group had a reduced mechanical sensitivity threshold. Morphometric study showed that the D group had a smaller myelinated fiber area and diameter, higher density of fibers and area occupied by connective tissue, thinner myelin sheath, and higher g-ratio. The D group had a higher percentage of small myelinated fibers and a lower percentage of large-diameter myelinated fibers than the C and TD groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training prevents functional and morphological abnormalities in the sural nerve caused by diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduaç˜o em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Severo Do Nascimento
authors.forename: Gisele Agustini
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lovatel
authors.forename: Jocemar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ilha
authors.forename: Beatriz D'agord
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Schaan
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achaval
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*