Effect of Treating Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats With Sorbinil,Myo-Inositol or Aminoguanidine on Endoneurial Blood Flow,Motor Nerve Conduction Velocity and Vascular Function of Epineurial Arterioles of the Sciatic Nerve

Previously we have demonstrated that diabetes causes impairment in vascular function of epineurial vessels, which precedes the slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity. Treatment of diabetic rats with aldose reductase inhibitors, aminoguanidine or myo-inositol supplementation have been shown to improve motor nerve conduction velocity and/or decreased endoneurial blood flow. However, the effect these treatments have on vascular reactivity of epineurial vessels of the sciatic nerve is unknown. In these studies we examined the effect of treating streptozotocininduced rats with sorbinil, aminoguanidine or myo-inositol on motor nerve conduction velocity, endoneurial blood flow and endothelium dependent vascular relaxation of arterioles that provide circulation to the region of the sciatic nerve. Treating diabetic rats with sorbinil, aminoguanidine or myo-inositol improved the reduction of endoneurial blood flow and motor nerve conduction velocity. However, only sorbinil treatment significantly improved the diabetes-induced impairment of acetylcholinemediated vasodilation of epineurial vessels of the sciatic nerve. All three treatments were efficacious in preventing the appropriate metabolic derangements associated with either activation of the polyol pathway or increased nonenzymatic glycation. In addition, sorbinil was shown to prevent the diabetes-induced decrease in lens glutathione level. However, other markers of oxidative stress were not vividly improved by these treatments. These studies suggest that sorbinil treatment may be more effective in preventing neural dysfunction in diabetes than either aminoguanidine or myoinositol.     

Effect of treatment of diabetic rats with dehydroepiandrosterone on vascular and neural function

Nutritional supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may be a candidate for treating diabetes-induced vascular and neural dysfunction. DHEA is a naturally occurring adrenal androgen that has antioxidant properties and is reportedly reduced in diabetes. Using a prevention protocol, we found that dietary supplementation of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5% DHEA caused a concentration-dependent prevention in the development of motor nerve conduction velocity and endoneurial blood flow impairment, which are decreased in diabetes. At 0.25%, DHEA significantly prevented the diabetes-induced increase in serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and sciatic nerve conjugated diene levels. This treatment also reduced the production of superoxide by epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve. DHEA treatment (0.25%) significantly improved vascular relaxation mediated by acetylcholine in epineurial vessels of diabetic rats. Sciatic nerve Na+-K+-ATPase activity and myoinositol content was also improved by DHEA treatment, whereas sorbitol and fructose content remained elevated. These studies suggest that DHEA, by preventing oxidative stress and perhaps improving sciatic nerve Na+-K+-ATPase activity, may improve vascular and neural dysfunction in diabetes.     

Reduced conduction reserve in the diabetic rat heart: role of iPLA2 activation in the response to ischemia

Hearts from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats have previously been shown to have impaired intercellular electrical coupling, due to reorganization (lateralization) of connexin43 proteins. Due to the resulting reduction in conduction reserve, conduction velocity in diabetic hearts is more sensitive to conditions that reduce cellular excitability or intercellular electrical coupling. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cardiac ischemia, a condition associated with both reduced cellular excitability and reduced intercellular coupling. Activation of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)) is known to be part of the response to acute ischemia and may contribute to the intercellular uncoupling by causing increased levels of arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidyl choline. Normally perfused diabetic hearts are known to exhibit increased iPLA(2) activity and may thus be particularly sensitive to further activation of these enzymes. In this study, we used voltage-sensitive dye mapping to assess changes in conduction velocity in response to acute global ischemia in Langendorff-perfused STZ-induced diabetic hearts. Conduction slowing in response to ischemia was significantly larger in STZ-induced diabetic hearts compared with healthy controls. Similarly, slowing of conduction velocity in response to acidosis was also more pronounced in STZ-induced diabetic hearts. Inhibition of iPLA(2) activity using bromoenol lactone (BEL; 10 μM) had no effect on the response to ischemia in healthy control hearts. However, in STZ-induced diabetic hearts, BEL significantly reduced the amount of conduction slowing observed beginning 5 min after the onset of ischemia. BEL treatment also significantly increased the time to onset of sustained arrhythmias in STZ-induced diabetic hearts but had no effect on the time to arrhythmia in healthy control hearts. Thus, our results suggest that iPLA(2) activation in response to acute ischemia in STZ-induced diabetic hearts is more pronounced than in control hearts and that this response is a significant contributor to arrhythmogenic conduction slowing.     

Nerve conduction in childhood diabetes

Sixty-nine diabetic children were studied with respect to the motor nerve conduction velocities, duration of illness and adequacy of control.As a group there was a trend for children with diabetes to have slower MNCV than non-diabetic children, and for the slowing to become progressive as the duration of their disease increased. Poorer quality of diabetes control was also associated with progressive slowing of conduction but the exact relationship is uncertain, since no patient who had diabetes for more than four years was well controlled.Theories of causation of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients are reviewed; metabolic changes, rather than other factors, are thought most likely in children.     

Pentoxifylline Effects on Nerve Conduction Velocity and Blood Flow in Diabetic Rats

Pentoxifylline has several actions that improve blood rheology and tissue perfusion and may therefore potentially be applicable to diabetic neuropathy. The aims of this study were to ascertain whether 2 weeks of treatment with pentoxifylline could correct nerve conduction velocity and blood flow deficits in 6-week streptozotocin-diabetic rats and to examine whether the effects were blocked by co-treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, flurbiprofen, or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N^G-nitro-ʟ-arginine. Diabetic deficits in sciatic motor and saphenous sensory nerve conduction velocity were 56.5% and 69.8% corrected, respectively, with pentoxifylline treatment. Sciatic endoneurial blood flow was approximately halved by diabetes and this deficit was 50.4% corrected by pentoxifylline. Flurbiprofen co-treatment markedly attenuated these actions of pentoxifylline on nerve conduction and blood flow whereas N^G-nitro-ʟ-arginine was without effect. Thus, pentoxifylline treatment confers neurovascular benefits in experimental diabetic neuropathy, which are linked at least in part to cyclooxygenasemediated metabolism.     

A comparison of sciatic nerve neuropathy in diabetic and aged rats

We compared the development of sciatic nerve neuropathy in young diabetic rats with that in non-diabetic aged rats. Diabetes was induced in six-month old rats by injection with alloxan and was moderately controlled by single daily injections of insulin. Blood insulin levels in diabetic rats were significantly reduced compared to the aged animals, and glucose was significantly higher in diabetic rats. Sciatic nerve conduction velocities were measured monthly. Both motor and sensory conduction velocities decreased in the diabetic rats to a level that was similar to those in 36-month old rats. The decreases in conduction velocities in the diabetic rats were most dramatic during months 6 through 12 of diabetes. After 6 and 12 months of diabetes, sciatic nerves were examined by electron microscopy and compared to nerves from 24- and 36-month old rats respectively. Ultrastructural changes in the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats at 6 months included disruptions of myelin and dense axoplasm. In comparison, the 24-month old rats only had distorted contours of the nerve fibres. After 12 months of diabetes, the axoplasm had large spaces and the myelin was thickened and deformed. The axoplasm of 36-month old rats was normal in appearance; however the myelin sheath was thickened and split into layers. The Schwann cells were vacuolated and irregular in shape. These observations indicate that diabetes results in the early onset of age-like changes in the sciatic nerve. It suggests that the control of hyperglycemia in humans may preserve sciatic nerve structure and function.     

Normal blood flow but lower oxygen tension in diabetes of young rats: microenvironment and the influence of sympathectomy.

Studies of rats with experimental streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes at 4 months have identified sciatic nerve trunk oligemia and hypoxia, but it is uncertain how early these abnormalities develop or which develops first. We studied young (4-week-old) rats after 6 or 16 weeks of STZ-induced diabetes (or after citrate buffer injection in controls) by recording multi-fiber conduction in three different nerve territories and by measuring sciatic endoneurial blood flow (NBF) and oxygen tension (PnO2) at end point. To evaluate the impact of sympathectomy on this diabetic model, separate animal groups were treated for 5 weeks with guanethidine monosulfate given at the onset of diabetes (group 1, end point 6 weeks) or after 6 weeks of diabetes (group 2, end point 16 weeks). Diabetes was associated with deficits in sensory and motor caudal conduction and increased resistance to ischemic conduction failure (RICF). NBF was comparable to control animals at both time points and was within the published normal range of NBF. In contrast, oxygen tensions were shifted to lower values in diabetic animals. Sympathectomy was associated with blunting of the RICF increase in group 2 but worsened caudal sensory conduction despite evidence of modest improvement in sciatic nerve oxygenation. Our findings support the concept that neuropathy occurs early in diabetes and that hypoxia develops before oligemia. Sympathectomy did not benefit this diabetic model.     

Preventing superoxide formation in epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve from diabetic rats restores endothelium-dependent vasodilation

We have previously reported that in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats that increased formation of superoxide and peroxynitrite is associated with impairment in vascular relaxation in epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve. In this study we demonstrate that pretreating epineurial arterioles from diabetic rats in vitro with alpha-lipoic acid, dihydrolipoic acid, tempol or arginine restores acetylcholine-mediated vascular relaxation to near the reactivity observed in vessels from control rats. Suggesting that increased oxidative stress and reduction in nitric oxide availability is partially responsible for the impairment in endothelium-dependent vasodilation observed in epineurial arterioles from diabetic rats. In contrast, pretreating epineurial arterioles from diabetic rats with aminoguanidine or allopurinol had no effect. Studies designed to investigate the source of superoxide formation provided results suggesting that complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and NAD(P)H oxidase are responsible for the increase in superoxide formation observed with epineurial arterioles from the sciatic nerve. Pretreating epineurial arterioles from diabetic rats with the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolymaleimide I (GF 109203X) improved acetylcholine-mediated vascular relaxation but did not prevent the increase in superoxide formation suggesting that activation of protein kinase C by oxidative stress is downstream of superoxide formation. These studies imply that increased superoxide formation via the mitochondrial electron transport chain and perhaps NAD(P)H oxidase is partially responsible for reduced vascular reactivity observed in epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve from diabetic rats.     

Alterations of Inositol Lipid Metabolism of Rat Sciatic Nerve in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Abstract: The composition and metabolism of rat sciatic nerve phospholipids were studied 20 weeks after induction of chronic diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). On a wet weight basis the nerves from the diabetic animals showed a 7% decrease in total phospholipid from that of controls and a relative decrease in phosphatidylinositol. Incubations of isolated sciatic nerves of diabetic rats in a medium containing [³³P]orthophosphate gave decreased labeling of phosphatidylinositol and substantial changes in the labeling pattern of phosphatidylinositol phosphate and 4,5-bisphosphate from that of controls. The ratio of label in these polyphosphoinositides decreased from 2.5 for normal nerve to about 1.0 for diabetic nerve within a 2-h incubation period. These metabolic alterations were not observed in acutely diabetic animals 5 days after streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) administration. Because polyphosphoinositides may be involved in the control of membrane permeability during axonal conduction, alterations in their relative amounts or turnover rates could be related to the physiological changes of early diabetic neuropathy.     

Protective effect of stobadine on NCV in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: augmentation by vitamin E

Hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress makes an important contribution to the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy. Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause cumulative damage to neurons and Schwan cells, however, they also have a deleterious effect on nerve blood flow causing endoneurial hypoxia, which is responsible for early nerve conduction velocity (NCV) deficits and contributes to an increase in resistance to ischaemic conduction failure (RICF). We tested whether antioxidants - stobadine, vitamin E or the combination of these drugs, could prevent the early signs of neural dysfunction in animal model of diabetes in 8-9 weeks old male Wistar rats, made diabetic by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg i.v.) 4 months prior to testing. Neuropathy was evaluated electrophysiologically by measuring motor NCV and RICF of sciatic nerve in vitro. We observed that treatment with the combination of stobadine and vitamin E significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the NCV slowing in diabetic rats, although it did not fully prevent the NCV impairment. Significant effect (p < 0.05) was observed also in stobadine monotherapy. The RICF elevated in diabetic animals was not affected by any drug applied. This study confirmed that treatment with appropriate antioxidants, especially their combination could partially prevented the decrease in NCV in diabetic rats.     

A new prostaglandin E1 analogue (TFC-612) prevents a decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity in streptozocin-diabetic rats

A new prostaglandin E1 analogue (TFC-612) was orally given to streptozocin-diabetic rats for 4 weeks after the induction of diabetes and its effects on motor nerve conduction velocity were studied. The compound significantly prevented a decrease of the velocity but did not reverse abnormal sorbitol and myo-inositol contents of the sciatic nerve. The results suggest that TFC-612 has a potent effect on diabetic nerve dysfunction via other mechanism than the correction of sorbitol and myo-inositol metabolisms and could be a potential compound for therapy of diabetic polyneuropathy.     

Sorbitol, inositol and nerve conduction in diabetes

Motor nerve conduction velocity was lower in streptozotocin-diabetic rats than in controls. Treatment with the aldose reductase inhibitor Sorbinil restored conduction velocity to normal. Diabetic rats had an increased concentration of sorbitol and reduced free inositol in sciatic nerve. Sorbinil corrected both defects. Inositol administration to diabetic rats also restored conduction velocity to normal. Genetically diabetic mice had reduced concentrations of inositol in sciatic nerve but fructose and sorbitol were normal. Glucose concentration was considerably increased.     

High oxygen tension constricts epineurial arterioles of the rat sciatic nerve via reactive oxygen species

Microcirculation of the sheath of the rat sciatic nerve fiber was investigated by using an intravital microscope, and changes in the diameter of the epineurial arterioles in response to highly oxygenated Krebs-bicarbonate solution were evaluated. Superfusion of low-oxygen (0%) Krebs-bicarbonate solution (LKS) onto rat sciatic nerves did not affect changes in the diameter of the arterioles. Nifedipine, a Ca(2+)-channel blocker, caused a dose-dependent dilation of the epineurial arterioles in LKS. In contrast, superfusion of high-oxygen (21%) Krebs-bicarbonate solution (HKS) onto rat sciatic nerves significantly constricted the epineurial arterioles in a time-dependent manner. The HKS-induced constriction of the epineurial arterioles was significantly reduced by treatment with 120 U/ml superoxide dismutase (SOD) alone or 5,000 U/ml catalase alone. In the presence of 120 U/ml SOD plus 5,000 U/ml catalase, 10(-4) M tempol, 10(-6) M diphenyleneiodium, 2 x 10(-4) M apocynin, or 10(-6) M allopurinol, the HKS-induced constriction of the epineurial arterioles completely disappeared. These results suggest that superfusion of highly oxygenated solution onto rat sciatic nerves constricts the epineurial arterioles through reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and that production of superoxide involves a NADPH oxidase- or xanthine oxidase-dependent pathway. In conclusion, ROS play significant roles in the regulation of microcirculation of rat sciatic nerves in vivo.     

Tanshinone IIA improves impaired nerve functions in experimental diabetic rats

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications in diabetes mellitus. Thus far, effective therapeutic agents for restoring the impaired motor and sensory nerve functions in diabetic neuropathy are still lacking. The antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of tanshinone IIA make it a promising candidate for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Therefore, the present study investigated the possible beneficial effect of tanshinone IIA on the impaired nerve functions displayed by a rat diabetic model. Insulin-dependent diabetes in rats was developed by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) at 50 mg/kg. The diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 in each group), and were intraperitoneally administrated daily for 4 weeks with tanshinone IIA (20 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg), or normal saline from the fourth day after STZ injection, respectively. At the end of tanshinone IIA administration, thermal and mechanical nociceptive threshold were determined by a hot plate test and Von Frey hairs; motor nerve conducting velocity (MNCV) was determined by an electrophysiological method; nerve blood flow (NBF) was detected using a laser Doppler flow meter; Na⁺,K⁺ATPase activity, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) in sciatic nerves, and the serum total antioxidant capability were also determined. We found that tanshinone IIA was capable of restoring diabetes-induced deficit in nerve functions (MNCV and NBF), and impairment in thermal and mechanical nociceptive capability. In addition, tanshinone IIA significantly increased the serum total antioxidant capability, improved the activities of Na⁺,K⁺ATPase, increased the levels of SOD and catalase, and reduced the MDA level in sciatic nerves in diabetic rats. All the findings indicate the beneficial effect of tanshinone IIA on impaired nerve functions and raise the possibility of developing tanshinone IIA as a therapeutic agent for diabetic neuropathy.     

Effect of the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor,apocynin, on peripheral nerve perfusion and function in diabetic rats

Upregulation of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase has been considered an important source for elevated levels of reactive oxygen species that contribute to several cardiovascular disease states, including the vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Previous studies have shown that treatment with antioxidants corrects impaired nerve function and blood flow in diabetic rats. The aim was to assess the degree of involvement of NAD(P)H oxidase in experimental diabetic neuropathy. To this end, after 6 weeks of untreated streptozotocin-diabetes, rats were treated for 2 weeks with the NAD(P)H oxidase, apocynin. Two high doses (15 and 100 mg/kg) were used to ensure that maximal effects were registered. Diabetes caused a 20% reduction in sciatic nerve motor conduction velocity, and a 14% deficit for sensory saphenous nerve. Apocynin treatment corrected these defects by 32% and 48%, respectively: there were no significant differences between the effects of the 2 doses. Sciatic nerve nutritive endoneurial perfusion was measured by hydrogen clearance microelectrode polarography. Blood flow and vascular conductance were 47% and 40% reduced by diabetes, respectively. Both doses of apocynin had similar effects, correcting the blood flow deficit by 31% and conductance by 47%. Thus, the data show that NAD(P)H oxidase contributes to the neurovascular deficits in diabetic rats. While only accounting for part of the elevated reactive oxygen species production in diabetes, this mechanism could provide a novel therapeutic candidate for further investigation in diabetic neuropathy and vasculopathy.     

Alterations in mRNA Expression of Myelin Proteins in the Sciatic Nerves and Brains of Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes. We examined the levels and the mRNA expression of myelin proteins in the sciatic nerves and the brains of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The diabetic rats exhibited a decrease in body weight, elevation of the blood glucose level and a decrease in motor nerve conduction velocity at 2 weeks after streptozotocin injection. In the sciatic nerves of diabetic rats, the level of P0 protein and its mRNA expression were markedly reduced at 20 weeks after the injection. In the brains, the levels of proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein and their mRNA expression were selectively decreased at 20 weeks after the injection. This affected expression of myelin proteins was found even when no histological abnormalities were detectable. Considering the functional significance of myelin proteins, this impairment of protein expression is possibly involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, including that in brain disorders.     

Role of nitrosative stress in early neuropathy and vascular dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Evidence for important roles of the highly reactive oxidant peroxynitrite in diabetic complications is emerging. We evaluated the role of peroxynitrite in early peripheral neuropathy and vascular dysfunction in STZ-diabetic rats. In the first dose-finding study, control and STZ-diabetic rats were maintained with or without the potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III)tetrakis-2-(N-triethylene glycol monomethyl ether) pyridyl porphyrin (FP15) at 3, 5, or 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) in the drinking water for 4 wk after an initial 2 wk without treatment for assessment of early neuropathy. In the second study with similar experimental design, control and STZ-diabetic rats were maintained with or without FP15, 5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), for vascular studies. Rats with 6-wk duration of diabetes developed motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity deficits, mechanical hyperalgesia, and tactile allodynia in the absence of small sensory nerve fiber degeneration. They also had increased nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia. All these variables were dose-dependently corrected by FP15, with minimal differences between the 5 and 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) doses. FP15, 5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), also corrected endoneurial nutritive blood flow and nitrotyrosine, but not superoxide, fluorescence in aorta and epineurial arterioles. Diabetes-induced decreases in acetylcholine-mediated relaxation by epineurial arterioles and coronary and mesenteric arteries, as well as bradykinin-induced relaxation by coronary and mesenteric arteries, were alleviated by FP15 treatment. The findings reveal the important role of nitrosative stress in early neuropathy and vasculopathy and provide the rationale for further studies of peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts in long-term diabetic models.     

The Impact of Low-Dose Insulin on Peripheral Nerve Insulin Receptor Signaling in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background

The precise mechanisms of the neuroprotective effects of insulin in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals remain unknown, but altered peripheral nerve insulin receptor signaling due to insulin deficiency might be one cause.

Methodology and Principal Findings

Diabetes was induced in 10-week-old, male Wistar rats by injecting them with STZ (45 mg/kg). They were assigned to one group that received half of an insulin implant (∼1 U/day; I-group, n = 11) or another that remained untreated (U-group, n = 10) for 6 weeks. The controls were age- and sex-matched, non-diabetic Wistar rats (C-group, n = 12). Low-dose insulin did not change haemoglobin A1c, which increased by 136% in the U-group compared with the C-group. Thermal hypoalgesia and mechanical hyperalgesia developed in the U-group, but not in the I-group. Sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities decreased in the U-group, whereas sensory nerve conduction velocity increased by 7% (p = 0.0351) in the I-group compared with the U-group. Western blots showed unaltered total insulin receptor (IR), but a 31% decrease and 3.1- and 4.0-fold increases in phosphorylated IR, p44, and p42 MAPK protein levels, respectively, in sciatic nerves from the U-group compared with the C-group. Phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK protein decreased to control levels in the I-group (p<0.0001).

Conclusions and Significance

Low-dose insulin deactivated p44/42 MAPK and ameliorated peripheral sensory nerve dysfunction in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. These findings support the notion that insulin deficiency per se introduces impaired insulin receptor signaling in type 1 diabetic neuropathy.     

Attenuation of vascular/neural dysfunction in Zucker rats treated with enalapril or rosuvastatin

Objective: Obese Zucker rats, animal model for the metabolic syndrome, develop a diabetes‐like neuropathy that is independent of hyperglycemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether drugs used to treat cardiovascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome also protect nerve function. Methods and Procedures: Obese Zucker rats at 20 weeks of age were treated for 12 weeks with enalapril or rosuvastatin. Lean rats were used as controls. Vasodilation in epineurial arterioles was measured by videomicroscopy. Endoneurial blood flow (EBF) was measured by hydrogen clearance and nerve conduction velocity was measured following electrical stimulation of motor or sensory nerves. Results: Enalapril treatment decreased serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity and both drugs reduced serum cholesterol levels. In obese Zucker rats at 32 weeks of age superoxide levels were elevated in the aortas and epineurial arterioles, which were reduced by treatment with either drug. Nitrotyrosine levels were increased in epineurial arterioles and reduced with enalapril treatment. EBF was decreased and corrected by treatment with either drug. Motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased and significantly improved with enalapril treatment. Obese Zucker rats were hypoalgesic in response to a thermal stimulus and this was significantly improved with either treatment. Treatment with either enalapril or rosuvastatin significantly reversed the decrease in acetylcholine‐mediated vascular relaxation of epineurial arterioles in obese Zucker rats. Discussion: Even though obese Zucker rats have normal glycemia vascular and neural dysfunctions develop with age and can be improved by treatment with either enalapril or rosuvastatin.