Endoneurial sodium accumulation in galactosemic rat nerves

Microdrop samples of endoneurial fluid and serum from galactosemic rats were analyzed with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The sodium concentration of endoneurial fluid from galactose-fed rats (295 meq/liter) was nearly twice that of age-matched controls (152 meq/liter) and indicates that sodium is present in an osmotically significant concentration that is capable of causing the edema and increased endoneurial fluid pressure (EFP) associated with galactose neuropathy. It is suggested that accumulation of endoneurial sodium is linked to the movement of sugar into the endoneurium.