RESUMO
Autonomic diabetic neuropathy (ADN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), to which there is no specific treatment. In this study, the efficacy of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (EOCz) in preventing ADN was evaluated in the rat vagus nerve. For the two fastest conducting myelinated types of axons of the vagus nerve, the conduction velocities and rheobase decreased, whilst the duration of the components of the compound action potential of these fibers increased. EOCz completely prevented these DM-induced alterations of the vagus nerve. Unmyelinated fibers were not affected. In conclusion, this investigation demonstrated that EOCz is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ADN.
RESUMO
O Diabetes mellitus (DM) é um distúrbio metabólico, complexo e de etiologia múltipla. Esta doença causa prejuízos aos sistemas vasculares e nervosos que se manifestam na forma de macro e microangiopatias e neuropatias diabéticas com alta incidência e prevalência na população mundial. Entre as neuropatias existentes, a neuropatia autonômica afeta o trato gastrointestinal (TGI) e caracteriza-se por alterações degenerativas em componentes do sistema nervoso entérico, como neurônios e células gliais. Consequentemente, ocorrem modificações na secreção e motilidade do TGI que são responsáveis por sintomas comuns da doença, tais como náuseas, inchaço, dor abdominal, diarreia, entre outros. Estudos experimentais e clínicos sugerem que o estresse oxidativo esteja envolvido na patogênese e na progressão da neuropatia diabética autonômica no sistema nervoso entérico. Assim, compostos antioxidantes que previnem a formação e/ou neutralizam os radicais livres oriundos do estresse oxidativo podem ter um papel relevante no tratamento das complicações neurológicas do diabetes mellitus. Neste artigo, realizou-se uma revisão da literatura sobre os principais aspectos, quadro clínico e patogênese do DM e a ocorrência da neuropatia diabética autônoma no sistema nervoso entérico, abordando as principais pesquisas que empregaram antioxidantes para prevenir e/ou tratar os danos neurológicos que são consequências desta patologia.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic complex disorder of multiple etiology. This disease causes damage to the vascular and nervous systems that are seen as macro- and microangiopathies and diabetic neuropathies, with high incidence and prevalence in the world population. Among the existing neuropathies, the autonomic neuropathy affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is characterized by degenerative changes in components of the enteric nervous system, such as neurons and glial cells. Accordingly, changes occur in secretion and motility of the GIT, which are responsible for common symptoms, such as nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, among others. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of autonomic diabetic neuropathy in the enteric nervous system. Thus, antioxidant compounds that prevent the formation and/or neutralize free radicals derived from oxidative stress may play a role in the treatment of neurological complications of diabetes mellitus. In this article, a literature review is performed on the main aspects of the clinical presentation and the pathogenesis of diabetes and autonomous diabetic neuropathy in the enteric nervous system. It also addresses the main research employing antioxidants to prevent and/or treat neurological damages that are consequences of this disease.