A factor in the serum of diabetic patients inhibits microtubule formation

The effect of serum from non-diabetic patients, diabetics without neuropathy and diabetics with significant neuropathy on the ability of pig brain microtubule proteins to polymerize in vitro to microtubules was observed. The extent of polymerisation on the second and third cycles of polymerisation was significantly reduced in the presence of diabetics' serum compared with non-diabetics' serum. No significant difference between the serum samples from diabetics with and without neuropathy could be found. The finding suggests the presence of a factor in the serum of diabetics, whether or not they have neuropathy, which will impair microtubule formation in vitro.