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The effects of dietary treatment with essential fatty acids on sciatic nerve conduction and activity of the Na + /K + pump in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Lockett M.J.,
Tomlinson D.R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1992.tb14258.x
Subject(s) - evening primrose oil , nerve conduction velocity , streptozotocin , endocrinology , sciatic nerve , medicine , ouabain , diabetic neuropathy , motor nerve , diabetes mellitus , evening primrose , evening , chemistry , sodium , anatomy , food science , physics , organic chemistry , astronomy
1 This study examined the effects of dietary essential fatty acid supplementation (5% (w/w) evening primrose oil) upon sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity and 86 Rb + pumping in sciatic nerve endoneurial preparations in rats with 4 to 5 weeks of streptozotocin‐induced diabetes. 2 Control diabetic rats (dietary supplementation with 5% (w/w) hydrogenated coconut oil) exhibited a reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity (16%; P < 0.05) compared to similarly‐fed non‐diabetic controls, but there was no significant alteration in ouabain‐sensitive 86 Rb + pumping, a parameter reflecting activity of the Na + /K + pump. 3 Treatment of diabetic rats with evening primrose oil prevented completely the development of the motor nerve conduction velocity deficit without affecting the severity of diabetes. Evening primrose oil treatment did not significantly affect motor nerve conduction velocity of non‐diabetic animals. 4 Evening primrose oil treatment caused a significant reduction in activity of the Na + /K + pump in sciatic nerves of diabetic animals (45%; P < 0.05). 5 These results suggest that the acute conduction velocity defect arising in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats, and the actions of evening primrose oil upon this, are independent of any effect on activity of the Na + /K + pump. Other putative mechanisms are discussed.