C-peptide improves neuropathy in type 1 diabetic BB/Wor-rats

The spontaneously diabetic BB/Wor-rat is a close model of human type 1 diabetes and develops diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) similar to that seen in type 1 patients. Here we examine the therapeutic effects of C-peptide, delivered as continuous infusion or once daily subcutaneous injections on established DPN.

Diabetic rats were treated from four to seven months duration of diabetes with full continuous replacement dose of rat C-peptide via (a) osmopumps (OS), (b) full replacement dose (HSC) or (c) one-third of full replacement dose (LSC) by once daily injections.

Diabetic rats treated with OS showed improvements in motor nerve conduction velocity (p < 0.001), sural nerve myelinated fibre number (p < 0.005), size (p < 0.05), axonal area (p < 0.001), regeneration (p < 0.001) and overall neuropathy score (p < 0.001). The progressive decline in sensory nerve conduction velocity was fully prevented. The frequencies of Wallerian degeneration were decreased (p < 0.005). HSC-treated rats showed prevention of further progression of DPN (p < 0.001), whereas LSC-treated rats showed a milder progression of DPN (p < 0.001) compared to untreated rats as assessed by neuropathy score.

We conclude that (1) C-peptide is effective in the treatment of established DPN, (2) its effect is dose-dependent and (3) replacement by continuous infusion is the most effective administration of C-peptide.