Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
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Diabetes Metab. Res. Rev. · Nov 2002
Comparative StudyImpaired glucose tolerance and insulinopenia in the GK-rat causes peripheral neuropathy.
Recent studies indicate that impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in man is a causative factor in idiopathic sensory neuropathy, and that insulinopenia may contribute substantially to the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The effect of sustained IGT and progressive insulinopenia in the absence of overt hyperglycemia on peripheral nerve abnormalities was examined in the Goto-Kakizaki (GK)-rat. ⋯ IGT combined with hyperinsulinemia for 2 months have no detectable effect on peripheral nerve function or structure. In contrast, IGT and subsequent insulinopenia result in a functional and structural neuropathy associated with impaired NGF support and neuropeptide synthesis. We suggest that these abnormalities are mainly due to insulinopenia rather than hyperglycemia.