TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on the ultrastructural abnormalities of peripheral nerves in experimental diabetes
AU - Sharma, Ashutosh Kumar
AU - Ponery, Abdul S.
AU - Lawrence, Paul A.
AU - Ahmed, Ijaz
AU - Bastaki, Salim M.A.
AU - Dhanasekaran, Subramanian
AU - Sheen, Rajan S.
AU - Adeghate, Ernest
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Ultrastructural observations were made on myelinated fibers in the tibial nerves in order to investigate the beneficial effects of α-tocopherol administration in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats, aged 12 weeks and weighing between 250 g to 300 g were studied. Six onset control rats were used to obtain the baseline parameters for this strain and age. Further 3 groups - untreated diabetic animals, diabetic animals treated with α-tocopherol, and age-matched controls - were studied over a 3-month period. In the diabetic animal, administration of α-tocopherol resulted in a significant crease (p < 0.05) in total plasma vitamin E levels when compared with other groups. Myelinated fiber cross-sectional area (p < 0.05), axonal area (p < 0.01) and myelin sheath area (p < 0.05) were significantly less in the tibial nerve of diabetic animals than in age-matched controls, but not different from those of onset controls. In the α-tocopherol treated diabetic animals, the values for these parameters were intermediate without showing significant difference when compared with age-matched controls and untreated diabetics. The "g" ratio (axon to fiber area) did not differ between any experimental groups. The number of large myelinated fibers were less in the untreated diabetic animals, but in the α-tocopherol-treated diabetics, the values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than with untreated diabetics and were similar to those of age-matched controls. In conclusion, this ultrastructural study reiterated the fact that structural abnormalities of myelinated fibers occur in experimental diabetes and that α-tocopherol administration may be useful in preventing the development of these abnormalities.
AB - Ultrastructural observations were made on myelinated fibers in the tibial nerves in order to investigate the beneficial effects of α-tocopherol administration in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats, aged 12 weeks and weighing between 250 g to 300 g were studied. Six onset control rats were used to obtain the baseline parameters for this strain and age. Further 3 groups - untreated diabetic animals, diabetic animals treated with α-tocopherol, and age-matched controls - were studied over a 3-month period. In the diabetic animal, administration of α-tocopherol resulted in a significant crease (p < 0.05) in total plasma vitamin E levels when compared with other groups. Myelinated fiber cross-sectional area (p < 0.05), axonal area (p < 0.01) and myelin sheath area (p < 0.05) were significantly less in the tibial nerve of diabetic animals than in age-matched controls, but not different from those of onset controls. In the α-tocopherol treated diabetic animals, the values for these parameters were intermediate without showing significant difference when compared with age-matched controls and untreated diabetics. The "g" ratio (axon to fiber area) did not differ between any experimental groups. The number of large myelinated fibers were less in the untreated diabetic animals, but in the α-tocopherol-treated diabetics, the values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than with untreated diabetics and were similar to those of age-matched controls. In conclusion, this ultrastructural study reiterated the fact that structural abnormalities of myelinated fibers occur in experimental diabetes and that α-tocopherol administration may be useful in preventing the development of these abnormalities.
KW - Antioxidants
KW - Diabetes
KW - Morphometry
KW - Myelinated fibers
KW - Neuropathy
KW - Streptozotocin
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U2 - 10.1046/j.1529-8027.2001.006001033.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1529-8027.2001.006001033.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 11293806
AN - SCOPUS:0035085986
SN - 1085-9489
VL - 6
SP - 33
EP - 39
JO - Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System
JF - Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System
IS - 1
ER -