A metabolic derivative of glucose, methylglyoxal (MGO), has pro-excitatory effects; however, its precise effects on axonal ion channels are not well known.
There was increased hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) in wild type mice administered with MGO.
Upregulation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) currents might be also present in patients with diabetic neuropathy.