The pectin-insulin patch application prevents the onset of peripheral neuropathy-like symptoms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

An intensive glycaemic control with insulin injections has been shown to delay the onset and the progression of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. However, the undesirable effects associated with current mode of insulin administration remains challenging In this study, we have investigated a pectin-insulin patch application on the development of peripheral neuropathic symptoms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Pectin-insulin patches (20, 40, 82.9µg/kg) were daily applied thrice in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 45 days. Afterwards, blood glucose, locomotor activity, thermal perception and gripping strength were assessed. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed, afterwhich the plasma nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Result: The patch application attenuated hyperglycaemia with a concomitant improvement in the locomotor activity, thermal perception and gripping strength in diabetic animals. Furthermore, the application of the patch augmented plasma nitric oxide while improving oxidative status as evidenced by an increase and a decrease in plasma SOD and MDA concentrations, respectively. Lastly, the sustained patch application resulted in the attenuation of plasma TNF α. Conclusions: The glycaemic control rendered by the pectin-insulin patch is associated with the delay in the onset of peripheral neuropathic-like symptoms in diabetic animals.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author