Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of low dose sodium nitrate preconditioning on the peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (no intervention), control treated sodium nitrate (100 mg/L in drinking water), diabetic (no intervention), diabetic treated NPH insulin (2-4 U), and diabetic treated sodium nitrate (100 mg/L in drinking water). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). All interventions were done for 60 days immediately following diabetes confirmation. Thermal and mechanical algesia thresholds were measured by means of hot-plate test, von Frey test, and tail-withdrawal test before the diabetic induction and after diabetes confirmation. At the end of the experiment, serum NOx level and serum insulin level were assessed. Blood glucose concentration and body weight have recorded at the base and duration of the experiment. Results Both hypoalgesia, hyperalgesia along with allodynia developed in diabetic rats. Significant alterations including, decrease in tail withdrawal latency (30th day), decreased mechanical threshold (60th day), and an increase in hot plate latency (61st day) were displayed in diabetic rats compared to control rats. Nitrate and insulin preconditioning produced protective effects against diabetesinduced peripheral neuropathy. Data analysis also showed a significant increase in glucose level as well as a considerable reduction in serum insulin and body weight of diabetic rats, which restored by both insulin and nitrate preconditioning. Conclusion Sodium nitrate preconditioning produces a protective effect in diabetic neuropathy, which may be mediated by its antihyperglycemic effects and increased serum insulin level.
KeywordsNitrate preconditioning . Diabetes . Peripheral nerve . Thermal algesia . Mechanical algesia Highlights • Diabetes decreased mechanical threshold (mechanical allodynia) • Diabetes caused the first reduction and then a secondary increase in tail withdrawal and hot plate latency • Sodium nitrate preconditioning decreased the blood glucose and increased the serum insulin level in diabetic rats. • Sodium nitrate preconditioning reduced allodynia and thermal algesia in diabetic rats * Rana Keyhanmanesh