Reduced anterograde and retrograde accumulation of axonally transported phosphofructokinase in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: effects of insulin and the aldose reductase inhibitor ?Statil?

Abstract
This study examined anterograde and retrograde accumulation of axonally transported 6-phosphofructokinase activity, proximal and distal to sciatic nerve constrictions, in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 4 weeks' duration. There were deficits in accumulation on both sides of the constriction in untreated diabetic rats (proximal accumulation 66% of controls, pppppmyo-inositol in the sciatic nerve. In spite of these indications of effective aldose reductase inhibition, the drug was without effect on the deficits in accumulation of activity at ligatures or unconstricted nerve levels of phosphofructokinase activity. We conclude that short-term experimental diabetes in rats induced defects in both anterograde and retrograde axonal transport of 6-phosphofructokinase activity. These defects were prevented by intensive insulin treatment but were resistant to an effective aldose reductase inhibitor, indicating a lack of involvement of polyol pathway flux in their pathogenesis.