RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Improves Nerve Conduction and Ameliorates Regeneration Deficits in Diabetic Rats JF Diabetes JO Diabetes FD American Diabetes Association SP 1807 OP 1812 DO 10.2337/diabetes.53.7.1807 VO 53 IS 7 A1 Mizisin, Andrew P. A1 Vu, Yvonne A1 Shuff, Michelle A1 Calcutt, Nigel A. YR 2004 UL http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/53/7/1807.abstract AB Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) protein and bioactivity are reduced in the peripheral nerve of hyperglycemic rats with a cause related to metabolism of hexose sugars by aldose reductase. Here the efficacy of CNTF treatment against disorders of nerve function in hyperglycemic rats was investigated. CNTF treatment from the onset of 8 weeks of galactose feeding prevented nerve conduction slowing in a dose-dependent manner. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were maintained for 4 weeks before CNTF treatment was initiated. Four weeks of CNTF treatment significantly improved nerve conduction compared with untreated diabetic rats and also normalized the recovery of toe spread after sciatic nerve crush. One week of CNTF treatment significantly improved the distance of sensory nerve regeneration achieved after nerve crush injury compared with untreated diabetic rats. CNTF was without effects on any parameter in nondiabetic rats. Eight weeks of diabetes did not impair macrophage recruitment 1 and 7 days after nerve crush; neither did intraneural injections of CNTF and CNTFRα enhance recruitment in diabetic or control rats. These observations point to the potential utility of CNTF in treating nerve dysfunction in experimental diabetes.