Altered metabolic incorporation of fucose and leucine into PNS myelin of 25-week-old diabetic (C57BL/Ks [db/db]) mice: effects of untreated diabetes on nerve metabolism

Aldose reductase activity and myo-inositol levels in sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia of the diabetic mutant mouse [C57/BL/Ks (db/db)]

Glucose, polyol (sorbitol, fructose), and myo-inositol levels were estimated in peripheral nerve tissue of the diabetic mutant mouse [C57/BL/Ks (db/db)]. At 26 and 40 weeks of age, there was significant accumulation of glucose, sorbitol, and fructose. Tissue myo-inositol levels were lower than those in age-matched control animals at 40 weeks, but not at 26 weeks. Polyol changes in mouse nerve were less marked than those in rat nerve. In dorsal root ganglia, there was also an increase in glucose, sorbitol, and fructose, with a decrease in myo-inositol concentration. These findings show that there is increased aldose reductase activity in peripheral nerve tissue of the diabetic mutant mouse.