title: Effect of high-fat diet on peripheral neuropathy in C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: Objective. Dyslipidemia may contribute to the development of peripheral neuropathy, even in prediabetics; however, few studies have evaluated vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Methods. Using high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced prediabetic C57BL/6 mice, we assessed motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) using a BIOPAC System and thermal algesia with a Plantar Test (Hargreaves' method) Analgesia Meter. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density and mean dendrite length were tested following standard protocols. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. Results. HFD-fed mice showed deficits in motor and sensory NCV, thermal hyperalgesia, reduced mean dendrite length, and VEGF-A expression in the plantar skin and increased 12/15-LOX in the sciatic nerve (P < 0.05 compared with controls). Conclusion. HFD may cause large myelinated nerve and small sensory nerve fiber damage, thus leading to neuropathy. The mean dendrite length may be a more sensitive marker for early detection of peripheral neuropathy. Reduced blood supply to the nerves and increased oxidative stress may contribute to the development and severity of peripheral neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Dou
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Meiping
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Cuihua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Yaoming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue