Protective Effects of Sesamol on Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Neuropathy in Rats

Abstract

Objective(s): To investigate the neuroprotective effect of sesamol on diabetic neuropathy in diabetic rats. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: A research laboratory. Participants: Sprague-Dawley rats (NZ30; weight, 230-300g) were used and divided into 3 study groups. Interventions: The male rats were randomly divided into three groups: group 1, diabetic control rats without sesamol treatment (DM group); group 2, diabetic rats with sesamol treatment (SM group); group 3, normal control. Diabetes was induced by Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) injection, and Sesamol (10 mg/kg/d) was administered orally for 9 weeks. Main Outcome Measure(s): We measured weight, blood glucose level, behavior tests and electrodiagnostic studies before and at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after the injection. Results: After 3 weeks, SM groups showed a significantly heavier body weight and lower blood sugar level than DM group, which showed delayed response of thermal stimulation compared with normal control group (p<0.05). However, the SM groups showed difference after 6 weeks (p<0.05). While the DM group showed delayed sensory nerve conduction velocity and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) after 6 weeks, the SM group showed delayed MNCV at 9 weeks. H reflex didn’t show difference among three groups. In structural analyses, DM group showed severe myelin degenerations and morphologic changes of nerve fibers compared with SM group. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study suggests that treatment with sesamol may attenuate symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, and it also has protective effects against diabetic neuropathy.