Reduced capability of transmitting high frequency impulses in tail nerves of diabetic rats

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Abstract
The effect of long‐term (40 min) high frequency stimulation (143 Hz) of sensory‐motor tail nerves was studied in normal and in streptozotocindiabetic rats. The study comprised a 6‐week period, repeating the test at 2‐week intervals. In the initial (prediabetic) study, single experiments showed a mild depression of the peak‐to‐peak ampltiude during high frequency stimulation, which reversed completely during a subsequent rest period. In normal rats, the amplitude depression was unchanged in repeated tests over a 6‐week period. Diabetic rats showed a greater amplitude depression during high frequency stimulation. The difference was statistically significant after 2 weeks, but showed no further change at subsequent tests. The greater decrease in the amplitude in diabetic rats may reflect a depression of the axon membrane function, which may be the functionl correlate to the inhibition of the Na/K ATPase activity in diabetes, described by others. Monitoring of the axon membrane functional capacity may have clinical implications in the control of peripheral neuropathies. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.