Rubidium (86Rb+) influx into dorsal root ganglia and sciatic nerve endoneurium of control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats: comparison with enzymatic Na,K-ATPase activity

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 40; no. 10; p. 1079
• Main Authors: Llewelyn, J G, Patel, N J, Wright, D W, Thomas, P K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-1991
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - pathology; Ganglia, Spinal - metabolism; Rats; Reference Values; Rubidium - pharmacokinetics; Rubidium Radioisotopes; Sciatic Nerve - metabolism; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0026-0495
• DOI: 10.1016/0026-0495(91)90133-H

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in the rat causes a significant reduction in ouabain-sensitive Na,K-ATPase pumping activity measured by 86Rb+ influx, in sciatic endoneurium (by 54%) and dorsal root ganglia (by 22%). For endoneurium, the change is similar to that of ouabain-sensitive enzymatic Na,K-ATPase activity (42%), but in dorsal root ganglia, the decrease in enzymatic Na,K-ATPase activity was much greater. 86Rb+ efflux from dorsal root ganglia showed no difference between diabetic and control animals, confirming that the abnormal 86Rb+ influx reflects Na,K-ATPase function and not abnormal membrane permeability. The significance of these findings to pathogenetic mechanisms in diabetic neuropathy is discussed.