Oxytocin provides protection against diabetic polyneuropathy in rats

WOS: 000390431000008PubMed ID: 27881053Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effects of oxytocin (OT) on diabetic neuropathy (DNP) in rats. Materials and methods: Eighteen rats were used to induce diabetes using single dose streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg). Diabetic DNP was verified by electromyography (EMG) and motor function test on 21st day following STZ injection. Six rats served as naive control group and received no drug (n=6). Following EMG, diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups and administered with either 1ml/kg saline or 80 g/kg OT or 160 g/kg OT intraperitoneally for four weeks. Then, EMG, motor function test, biochemical analysis (plasma lipid peroxides and glutathione), histological, and immunohistochemical analysis of sciatic nerves (bax, caspase 3, caspase 9, and NGF) were performed. Results: Diabetic rats developed neuropathy, which was apparent from decreased compound muscle action potentials amplitudes and prolonged distal latency in saline-treated rats (p<0.001) whereas 160 g/kg OT significantly improved EMG findings. OT treatment significantly lessened the thickening of perineural fibrosis when compared with saline group (p<0.001). Besides, OT significantly reduced plasma lipid peroxides (p<0.05) and increased glutathione levels in diabetic rats (p<0.001). The sciatic nerves of saline-treated rats showed considerable increase in bax, caspase 3 and caspase 8 expressions (p