Reversibility of neurophysiological abnormalities in transplanted diabetic rats
摘要
To verify whether pancreatic islet transplantation could reverse diabetic neurophysiological alterations, we used an experimental model in which pancreatic islets were transplanted in diabetic inbred Lewis rats. VEPs, BAEPs, SEPs and metabolic parameters were evaluated in streptozotocindiabetic rats transplanted 4 months after diabetes induction (No. 7), in diabetic rats (No. 16) and in non-diabetic control rats (No. 12). Glycemic levels were normalized by transplantation. Neurophysiological values were altered in diabetic animals before transplantation, while they improved with a detectable gradient from the peripheral to the central structures, after transplantation. SEPs were significantly improved in the tarsus-L6 and in the L6-cortex tracts (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively, vs. diabetic rats) and were unchanged in the T6-cortex tract. BAEP latency values tended to improve in transplanted rats, but the differences vs. non-transplanted diabetic animals failed to reach significance. VEP values remained clearly pathological and even deteriorated after transplantation.