Axonal dwindling in early experimental diabetes. II. A study of isolated nerve fibres.

In a morphometric study of isolated fibres of the common peroneal nerve in short-term diabetic rats reduced fibre calibre was observed. No segmental demyelination or remyelination was found, but the nodes of Ranvier were slightly widened and paronodal bulbi were swollen relative to fibre calibre. It is suggested that axonal dwindling is the primary event in experimental diabetes. The reduction of the myelin sheath may be a consequence of the abnormal nerve cell offshoot. The results obtained suggest that streptozotocin diabetes in the rat is a useful model for the elucidation of diabetic neuropathy.