Mouse Study Sheds Light on Cause of Neuropathy Pain

By Diane Fennell Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects the nerves of the arms, legs, hands, and feet, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the affected areas. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, as many as 70% of people with diabetes eventually develop neuropathy. Pain from this condition is often difficult to treat, but researchers at the University of Virginia have recently made a discovery in mice that may shed light on how to effectively reduce nerve pain. Previous studies have indicated that a certain type of calcium channel (a structure that allows cells to communicate with one another) plays a role in the development of peripheral neuropathy pain. To investigate how these calcium channels contribute to neuropathy pain, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine examined mice with neuropathy, Type 2 diabetes, and morbid obesity. They found that high levels of blood glucose change the structure of the calcium channels in such a way that the channels are forced open and calcium is released into the nerve cells. This overload of calcium causes the cells to become hyperactive, which in turn causes the characteristic symptoms of neuropathy such as tingling and pain. "Normally pain is useful information because it alerts us that there is a damaging effect — something happening to tissues. But this pain is typically without any obvious reason," says researcher Slobodan ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs