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Sciatic nerve ATPase activity is unaffected in diabetic mutant C57Bl/Ks (db/db) mice
Diabetes
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Diabetic neuropathy in mice did not show deficits in nerve ATPase activity. Beneficial effects of gangliosides may stem from other pharmacological actions, not ATPase maintenance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Diabetology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus.
- Previous studies suggested a link between Na+-K+-ATPase abnormalities and polyol pathway impairment in diabetic neuropathy.
- The C57Bl/Ks (db/db) mouse model exhibits spontaneous diabetes and neuropathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ATPase activities (total, Mg2+-, and Na+-K+-ATPase) in the sciatic nerves of diabetic (db/db) and control (db/+) mice.
- To determine if Na+-K+-ATPase abnormalities are present in the sciatic nerves of diabetic mice.
- To assess the effect of ganglioside treatment on ATPase activity in diabetic mice.
Main Methods:
- Sciatic nerves were collected from diabetic (db/db) and control (db/+) mice at 16, 26, and 40 weeks of age.
- In vitro assays were performed to measure composite (total), Mg2+-(ouabain-resistant), and Na+-K+-(ouabain-inhibited) ATPase activities.
- Some diabetic and control groups received a ganglioside mixture for 30 days prior to tissue collection.
Main Results:
- No significant deficit in total, Mg2+-, or Na+-K+-ATPase activities was observed in the sciatic nerves of diabetic mice compared to controls.
- This finding challenges previous associations between Na+-K+-ATPase dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy in other models.
- Ganglioside treatment did not result in statistically significant differences in ATPase activity in either diabetic or control groups.
Conclusions:
- Diabetic neuropathy in the C57Bl/Ks (db/db) mouse model can occur independently of Na+-K+-ATPase abnormalities.
- The previously reported beneficial effects of gangliosides on electrophysiological and morphometrical parameters in these mice are likely mediated by mechanisms other than ATPase activity modulation.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise pharmacological activities of gangliosides contributing to the amelioration of diabetic neuropathy.