Korean J Anat.  2005 Oct;38(5):379-383.

Neurotrophic Effect of alpha-Lipoic Acid on Diabetic Neuropathy

• Lee WT
• Ha HJ
• Ahn SK
• Lee JE
• Park KA

Abstract

The metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoate has been shown to be potent antioxidants to regenerate through redox cycling other antioxidants and to raise intracelluar glutathione levels. The peripheral nerve of experimental diabetic neuropathy is reported to related to glucose derived oxidative stress. Thus, it seems that alpha-lipoate is an ideal substance in the treatment of oxidative neural disorder, i.e. diabetic neuropathy. Twenty Spargue-Dawley rats (200~250 gm) were used and diabetes was induced by a single intraperitioneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). In lipoic acid group, alpha-lipoic acid which was dissolved in saline adding 2NNaOH and 2N HCI (pH 7.4) was administered intraperitoneally for 4 weeks after streptozotocin treatment. In nerve growth factor (NGF) group, recombinant human NGF were administered in dose of 500 mg/kg subcutaneously everyday for 4 weeks after streptozotocin treatment. After 4 weeks rats were perfused with 3% glutaraldehyde and 4% paraformaldehyde mixed solutions. Tibial nerve was dissected and embedded in epon. One micron thick sections were prepared and toluidine blue stain has been done. Microphotographic montages were made and the total number of myelinated nerve were counted. Results obtained were as follows; In control group, the average total number of myelinated nerve was 2742+/-83.1 and the diabetic group showed similar number; 2781+/-120.0. In NGF administered group, the total number was 3037+/-146.5 and in lipoic acid administered group, the total number was 3101+/-160.2. With the above results, it could be concluded alpha-lipoate has similar neuroprotective effect to NGF in diabetic neuropathy.

Keyword

Diabetic neuropathy; alpha-lipoic acid; Myelinated nerve; NGF; Quantitative study

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antioxidants
Diabetic Neuropathies*
Glucose
Glutaral
Glutathione
Humans
Myelin Sheath
Nerve Growth Factor
Neuroprotective Agents
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidative Stress
Peripheral Nerves
Rats
Streptozocin
Thioctic Acid*
Tibial Nerve
Tolonium Chloride
Antioxidants
Glucose
Glutaral
Glutathione
Nerve Growth Factor
Neuroprotective Agents
Streptozocin
Thioctic Acid
Tolonium Chloride