P03.20
Purpose: This pilot project was devised to translate clinical observations from KU Integrative Medicine into a tractable murine behavioral model that would allow investigation of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic impact of vitamin B6 on diabetic neuropathy-associated pain with a primary aim to: determine if dietary vitamin B6 intake influences the onset or intensity of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Methods: An established mouse model of painful diabetic neuropathy was used in conjunction with custom diets containing 0, 7, or 35 mg/kg vitamin B6 representing deplete, control and supplemented levels respectively. Established behavioral measures of painful neuropathy were used to test the timing of onset of neuropathy as well as the severity of the sensitivity for 8 weeks after induction of diabetes.
Results: Mechanical sensory testing was conducted once weekly with monofilaments of known stimulus intensity. Significant decreases in nociceptive threshold were seen in diabetic mice beginning 2 weeks post-induction. In B6 supplemented mice, the magnitude of diabetes-induced mechanical hyperalgesia was reduced as noted by the lack of significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic mice on the supplemented diet. Two-way ANOVA on Ranks for data from weeks 2 to 5 notes significant differences between control and deficient diet within the non-diabetic animals as well as control vs supplemented diet within the diabetic mice
Conclusion: Diabetic animals on either control or deficient chow exhibit increased responsiveness to mechanical stimuli within two weeks. Mice on B6 supplemented diet do not have significantly different thresholds from their non-diabetic counterparts. Moreover, diabetic mice on B6 supplemented diet exhibit significantly higher thresholds than mice on control diet. Non-diabetic mice on B6 deficient chow have significantly increased threshold from non-diabetic animals on control diet, despite a significantly lower body weight. Unexpected findings lead to question if hind paw innervation density may lead to amelioration of hypersensitivity with B6 treatment.
Contact: Ourania Stephanopoulos, ostephanopoulos@kumc.edu
