Attenuation of Cortically Evoked Motor-Neuron Potential in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats: A Study about the Effect of Diabetes upon Cortical-Initiated Movement

Aims/Hypothesis. The complications affecting the peripheral nervous system, associated with diabetes mellitus, have been the focus of considerable research. Comparably less research has focused upon the effect of diabetes upon the central nervous system. In this study, we investigate the effect of diabetes upon motor-neuron potentials evoked in the motor cortex of streptozotocin diabetic rats. Methods. In this study, we investigated the cortical-evoked motor-neuron potentials in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Cortical potentials were evoked using direct current stimulation to the motor cortex, and the resulting evoked potentials were recorded in the sciatic nerve. As voluntary movement consists of repeated activation of muscles, repeated stimulation trials were used to determine the effect of diabetes upon the animals’ ability to recuperate between stimulations. Results. Our findings showed that diabetes severely decreased the amplitude of cortical-evoked potentials and compromised the recuperation of motor neurons between activation. Conclusion/Interpretation. The reduced amplitude and weakened recuperation of diabetic motor neurons potentially may contribute to impaired transmission in motor pathways and thereby motor dysfunction.