Preventive Effect of ALA on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats through Mitochondrial Axonal Transport

The present study investigated the therapeutic effect of α-lipoic acid（ALA）on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in rats from the perspective of mitochondrial transport. The number of diabetic peripheral neuropathy rising in the world, has brought a lot of people suffering. Its treatment has also become a serious problem, and at present, there are no approved treatments or drugs for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). Mitochondria are a source of cellular energy, and the survival of peripheral nerve axon terminals is largely dependent on energy support. Because neurons are sites of high energy demands, with their unique polarized structure, mitochondrial transport is required to maintain energy homeostasis throughout the cell, especially in distal axons. So it is possible that mitochondrial transport function abate is one of the mechanisms of DPN. ALA is a synthetic derivative of antioxidants in the mitochondria, as auxiliary factor is a powerful antioxidant effect. ALA, therefore, research on the role of mitochondrial mechanism can provide new ideas for the future treatment of DPN.