Abstract.
In this study we have assessed the effect of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 5αandrostan-3α, 17β-diol (3α-diol) therapies on diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes was induced in adult male rats by the injection of streptozotocin and resulted in decreased T and increased 3α-diol levels in plasma and in decreased levels of pregnenolone and DHT in the sciatic nerve. Moreover, a reduced expression of the enzyme converting Tinto DHT (i.e., the 5α-reductase) also occurs at the level of sciatic nerve, suggesting that the decrease of DHT levels could be due to an impairment of this enzyme. Chronic treatment for 1 month with DHT or 3α-diol increased tail nerve conduction velocity and partially counteracted the increase of thermal threshold induced by diabetes. Treatment with DHT increased tibial Na+,K+-ATPase activity and the expression of myelin protein P0 in the sciatic nerve.DHT, 3α-diol and T reversed the reduction of intra-epidermal nerve fiber density induced by diabetes. These observations indicate that T metabolites can reverse behavioral, neurophysiological, morphological and biochemical alterations induced by peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
I. Roglio, R. Bianchi: These authors contributed equally to this study.
Received 4 January 2007; received after revision 13 February 2007; accepted 27 March 2007
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roglio, I., Bianchi, R., Giatti, S. et al. Testosterone derivatives are neuroprotective agents in experimental diabetic neuropathy. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 64, 1158 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7002-5
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7002-5