Does dietary fish oil improve nerve conduction velocity via regulating of blood glucose level in diabetic rat?

Abstract

Although it is a well-established fact that dietary fish oil can improve nerve conduction velocity in diabetic rat, but the exact mechanism of its action is unknown. Therefore, in this study we measured the blood glucose level of all animals for evaluating the possible effect of fish oil in improvement of nerve conduction velocity in diabetic neuropathy via regulation of blood glucose level. For this purpose, 30 male albino rats were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment protocols as follows: control, diabetic and fish oil groups. Blood glucose of animals was determined in all groups at the beginning and at different days after the experiment. Diabetic and fish oil-treated diabetic groups received alloxan (180 mg/kg, s.c.) at the beginning of the experiment. Animals with blood glucose higher than 300 mg/dl were considered diabetic. From the 10th day, Menhaden fish oil was used (by 10% of daily food consumption) through orogastric tubing for ten days. After 20 days, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of tibial nerve was measured. It was found out that there was a 17.1% (P