Open AccessGalanin and its receptor system promote the repair of injured sciatic nerves in diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Xiaofeng Xu,
Dandan Zhang,
Jinchi Liao,
Li Xiao,
Qing Wang,
Wei Qiu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
neural regeneration research/neural regeneration research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.93
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1876-7958
pISSN - 1673-5374
DOI - 10.4103/1673-5374.191228
Subject(s) - galanin , sciatic nerve , medicine , dorsal root ganglion , neuropathic pain , sciatic nerve injury , peripheral nerve injury , diabetic neuropathy , nerve injury , galanin receptor , peripheral neuropathy , streptozotocin , endocrinology , regeneration (biology) , receptor , anesthesia , diabetes mellitus , neuropeptide , anatomy , dorsum , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Various studies have reported that galanin can promote axonal regeneration of dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro and inhibit neuropathic pain. However, little is known about its effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and in vivo experimental data are lacking. We hypothesized that repeated applications of exogenous galanin over an extended time frame may also repair nerve damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and relieve pain in vivo . We found that neuropathic pain occurred in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and was more severe after sciatic nerve pinch injury at 14 and 28 days than in diabetic sham-operated rats. Treatment with exogenous galanin alleviated the neuropathic pain and promoted sciatic nerve regeneration more effectively in diabetic rats than in non-diabetic rats after sciatic nerve pinch injury. This was accompanied by changes in the levels of endogenous galanin, and its receptors galanin receptor 1 and galanin receptor 2 in the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal dorsal horn when compared with nerve pinch normal rats. Our results show that application of exogenous galanin daily for 28 days can promote the regeneration of injured sciatic nerves, and alleviate neuropathic pain in diabetic rats.