Effects of spinal cord stimulation on peripheral blood circulation in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Objective.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on peripheral circulation in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Materials and Methods.  Four weeks after streptozotocin or vehicle was injected (i.p.) in male Sprague-Dawley rats, SCS-induced vasodilation was examined. Results.  Plasma glucose concentration was significantly higher in diabetic rats than in the control animals. Motor threshold (MT) was significantly higher in diabetic rats than in control rats. SCS-induced vasodilation was attenuated at 90% of the MT, but not at 30% and 60% of MT in diabetic rats when compared to control rats (p < 0.001, N = 13). Furthermore, increasing SCS from 30% to 90% of MT typically produced a progressive increase in blood flow in control rats but not in diabetic rats (p < 0.01, N = 13). Conclusion.  This study suggested that SCS-induced vasodilation improves peripheral blood flow, although the pathways were partially impaired in the diabetic condition.