Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy: Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Therapy

I. MECHANISMS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS A. Endoneurial Ischemia/Hypoxia There is a perfusion deficit of approximately 50% that affects peripheral nerve endoneurium (1) and the parent cell bodies in relevant dorsal root and sympa­ thetic ganglia (2). The onset of ischemia occurs within the first week (3) and is due to a reduction in nutritive rather than arteriovenous flow. There is atten­ dant hypoxia, seen in both experimental (4) and human diabetes (5).