Therapeutic effects of ibudilast on peripheral neuropathy in diabetic rats

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 1994, Vol.64 (suppl.2), p.342-342
• Main Authors: Matsuzawa, Shigeki, Someya, Kunio, Saito, Takao, Tachiiri, Tokuei, Momo, Kenjiro
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• ISSN: 0021-5198
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-5198(19)51000-9

Ibudilast has blood viscosity-reducing, anti-platelet and cerebrovasodilating actions, and is currently used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and bronchial asthma. We examined its effects on rat diabetic neuropathy. Nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), blood flow (SNBF) and tissue oxygen partial pressure (PnO_2 ) in the sciatic nerve were significantly reduced in streptozotocin (40mg/kg i.v.)-induced diabetic rats. Each single i.v. injection of ibudilast (1.0mg/kg) and cilostazol (0.1mg/kg) slightly increased SNBF in the diabetic rats, whereas these drugs obviously increased it in normal rats. In contrast, 4-week oral administration of ibudilast (3 or 10mg/kg once a day) improved all of the MNCV and SNBF, where both the "volume" and "velocity" components of the SNBF were increased, and PnO_2 in the diabetic rats. The potency of ibudilast was higher than that of cilostazol. These results suggest that ibudilast restored the MNCV with the improvement of microcirculation contributed by hemorheological correction.