Peripheral nerve conduction studies in galactose-poisoned rats. Demonstration of increased resistance to ischemic conduction associated with endoneurial edema due to sugar alcohol accumulation.

Edematous nerves of galactose-poisoned rats had an increased resistance to ischemic conduction block when compared with control animals. Ischemia was caused by cardiac arrest due to intracardiac air embolism in 1 group and by occlusion of the abdominal aorta in another. In these 2 groups of galactose-fed rats, time to 50% conduction block was increased by 27 and 42%, respectively and the difference between control and galactose rats was significant (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001).