Y. Hanaoka, T. Ohi, S. Furukawa
Mar 1, 1994
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Journal
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Abstract
We investigated therapeutic effects of 4-methylcatechol (4-MC), a non-amine catechol compound, on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats. 4-MC is one of the potent stimulators of endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis both in vitro and in vivo. Diabetic rats showed a statistically significant reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), mean myelinated axon diameter, and NGF content in the sciatic nerve during the experimental period of 8 weeks. The 4-MC treatment started 4 weeks after the STZ injection resulted in significantly greater NGF content, faster MNCV, and larger mean myelinated nerve fiber diameter and axon diameter than in untreated diabetic rats. These findings suggest that a decreased NGF level in the diabetic sciatic nerves may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy and that 4-MC treatment could be useful for diabetic neuropathy.