Diabetes causes an early reduction in autonomic ganglion blood flow in rats

Impaired blood flow to peripheral nerve trunks makes a major contribution to the neuropathic complications of diabetes mellitus. Comparatively little attention has been paid to perfusion abnormalities for the cell bodies of origin of the autonomic and sensory nerves, although they are severely affected in diabetic neuropathy. The aim was to examine the time course of changes in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) perfusion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Ganglion blood flow, measured by hydrogen clearance microelectrode polarography, was approximately 70 ml min(-1) 100 g(-1). One week of diabetes caused a 46% perfusion deficit, which was maintained (54%) over 24 weeks. Thus, an early, profound, and long-lived reduction in ganglion perfusion may deleteriously affect neural cell body function and could contribute to autonomic neuropathy.