[Effect of trapidil on neuropathy in diabetic mice]

Long term oral administration of trapidil at the doses of 20 and 60 mg/kg/day restored the decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity in genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ db+/db+). Trapidil also suppressed the increase in sorbitol content and the decrease in myoinositol content in the sciatic nerve. The elevation of serum total cholesterol level and the decrease in the ratio of serum HDL-cholesterol level to total cholesterol level were suppressed by trapidil. The blood glucose level and the serum triglyceride level were not affected by the drug administration. These results suggest that trapidil may restore the decrease in nerve conduction velocity in diabetic mice through amelioration of the metabolite abnormalities in nerve and microcirculatory disorders.