Abstract
Diabetic neuropathy was studied in alloxanized diabetic rats, using the method of motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and teased fiber stuby.
The MCV was measured in the tail nerve with needle electrodes. Preliminary experiments showed that the optimal age of rats was greater than 180 days. A stable temperature of 37°C was obtained by dipping a tail in a liquid paraffin bath for more than 5 minutes.
In the teased fiber study, biopsy specimens of the peroneal, sural nerve and the root of sciatic nerve were used. These biopsy specimens were fixed with 2 % glutaraldehyde solution at pH 7.4. Teasing of nerves was performed after osmication with 1 % osmium tetroxide.
Alloxanized diabetic rats were divided into five groups according to the course before and after the administration of alloxan, that is, before administration and 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks after administration. The results from these groups were compared with those from untreated control groups.
The MCV in the diabetic rats of the groups of 2, 3 and 4 weeks was significantly lower than the MCV in untreated control rats.
In the teased fiber study, a significant difference was observed between diabetic rats in the groupsof 3 and 4 weeks and untreated control rats. The main change was segmental demyelination in the distal portion of the sural nerve.
In the group of 4 weeks, the finding of the remyelination in the damaged nerves was observed.
