Abstract. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common chronic complication of diabetes. Jinmaitong (JMT), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, improves certain symptoms of DPN, such as limb pain and numbness. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of JMT on DNA oxidative damage and apoptosis in the sciatic nerve of diabetic rats. The rats were divided into a normal and a diabetic group. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). The diabetic model (DM) rats received vitamin C (0.05 g/kg/day) or JMT [low-dosage (L), 0.44 g/kg/day; medium-dosage (M), 0.88 g/kg/day or high-dosage (H), 1.75 g/kg/day]. After 16 weeks, the mechanical pain threshold of the rats was evaluated. The expression of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase p22phox , B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), caspase 3 and cleaved-poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) in the sciatic nerve tissues was measured using the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. JMT had no effect on body weight and fasting blood glucose levels. Following treatment, the rats in the JMT groups had an improved pain threshold compared with the DM controls (JMT-L, 52.9±6.5 g; JMT-M, 74.7±9.3 g; and JMT-H, 61.7±2.0 g vs. DM control, 35.32±12.06 g; all P<0.01), while the threshold in the JMT-M rats was similar to that of normal controls (P>0.05). 8-OHdG and NADPH oxidase p22 phox expression was significantly decreased in the three JMT groups compared with that in the DM controls (all P<0.05). Following JMT treatment, Bcl-2 levels were increased, while caspase 3 and cleaved-PARP-1 levels were decreased compared with those in the DM controls (all P<0.01). In conclusion, JMT may reduce DNA oxidative damage to the sciatic nerve in diabetic rats, as well as regulate genes involved in peripheral neuronal cell apoptosis, suggesting that JMT could be used to prevent or treat DPN in diabetic patients.

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