Protective effects of progesterone on sciatic nerve function and structure in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Majallah-i ̒Ilmī-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Simnān

关键词: Progesterone;    Sciatic nerve;    Diabetic neuropathy;    Nerve conduction velocity;    Histomorphometry;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications affecting more than 50-60% of diabetic patients and it is a common cause of non-traumatic amputation and autonomic failure.Neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone (PROG), have been recently identified as promisingneuroprotective agents in several models of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigated thepotential neuroprotective effects of PROG in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy.Material and Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (with 10 rats in each),control (non-diabetic), untreated diabetic and diabetic PROG-treated. Diabetes was induced in theanimals by a single dose injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg kg-1, i.p.). In the PROG-treatedgroup, 4 weeks after inducing of diabetes; the animals were treated with PROG (8 mg kg-1, i.p., everytwo days) for 6 weeksResults: Diabetic rats showed a significant reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV),mean myelinated fibers (MFs) diameter, axon diameter and myelin sheath thickness in the sciaticnerve after 6 weeks. In the untreated diabetic group, endoneurial edema was observed in sciatic nerveand the numbers of MFs with enfolding into the axoplasm, irregularity of fibers, myelin sheath withunclear boundaries and alteration in myelin compaction were also increased. Long-term treatment withPROG increased MNCV significantly and prevented all these abnormalities in treated diabetic rats.Conclusion: Our findings indicated that PROG as a therapeutic approach can protectneurophysiologic and histomorphologic alterations induced by peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown