The effects of aldose reductase inhibition on nerve sorbitol and myoinositol concentrations in diabetic and galactosemic rats.

The interrelationship between sorbitol excess and myoinositol deficiency in the peripheral nerve was examined in acutely diabetic rats. Nerve myoinositol concentration was also studied in galactosemic rats. Polyol pathway blockade with Sorbinil (Pfizer, Connecticut) prevented nerve myoinositol reduction in both groups of animals. This conclusion was independent of alteration in the fluid content of the peripheral nerve. It is likely that myoinositol loss from nerves is causally related to the sorbitol and galactitol accumulation.