Retrograde axonal transport. A possible role in the development of neuropathy

The accumulation of 3H-fucose labelled glycoprotein and 35S-methionine labelled protein carried by the retrograde axonal transport in the sensory fibres of the sciatic nerve was examined on the day after injection of streptozotocin in rats. The accumulation of fucose-label was reduced (2.8 +/- 0.4 (SD) versus 2.1 +/- 0.5 (arbitrary units), 2p = 0.0044) indicating a decreased retrograde flux of glycoproteins. This early transport abnormality could have a key role in the development of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes.