Lipid synthesis in peripheral nerve from alloxan diabetic rats.

Decreased conduction velocity in the peripheral nerves of rats is noted after induction of diabetes. The slowing of nerve conduction is accompanied by a decrease in the in vitro incorporation of radioactive precursors into some of the myelin lipids isolated from nerve segments. Cerebroside synthesis is more depressed than that of any other fraction. A change in the type of cerebrosides synthesized is seen with a pronounced decrease in the rate of incorporation of saturated fatty acids.