Effect of a prostaglandin I2 derivative (iloprost) on peripheral neuropathy of diabetic rats.

PGE1 has been found to improve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. We considered that a PGI2 derivative may also have a similar action and therefore studied its effect in diabetic rats. Iloprost was administered intraperitoneally to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at a dose of 10 micrograms/kg/day for a month. The changes in nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were measured in the tail. One day after the last dose of iloprost, both sciatic nerves were removed from each rat, homogenized, and extracted with 6% TCA. The sorbitol and myo-inositol concentrations were determined by a combination of HPLC and an enzymatic method. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels were determined by RIA, and Na+, K+ ATPase activity was assessed by the enzyme cycling method of Greene and Lattimer. Iloprost was found to improve the NCV in the diabetic rats. The sorbitol content was not affected by iloprost, but the myo-inositol content was higher in the iloprost group than in the untreated group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The Na+, K+ ATPase activity and cAMP content were significantly higher in the iloprost group than in the untreated group. These findings suggest the possibility that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) system has an important influence on improvement in Na+, K+ ATPase activity.