Topical methyl nicotinate-induced skin vasodilation in diabetic neuropathy

Caselli, Antonella; Hanane, Tarik; Jane, Brady; Carter, Stephen; Khaodhiar, Lalita; Veves, Aristidis

doi:10.1016/S1056-8727(02)00256-8

« Previous Next »Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 205-210, July 2003

Topical methyl nicotinate-induced skin vasodilation in diabetic neuropathy

Antonella Caselli
- Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Department of Surgery, Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author. Microcirculation Laboratory, Palmer 317, West Campus, One Deaconess Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Tel.: +1-617-632-7075; fax: +1-617-632-7090
Tarik Hanane
- Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Department of Surgery, Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Brady Jane
- Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Department of Surgery, Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Stephen Carter
- Biochemics Inc., Danvers, MA, USA
Lalita Khaodhiar
- Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Department of Surgery, Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Aristidis Veves
- Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center, Department of Surgery, Microcirculation Laboratory, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Received 9 September 2002; received in revised form 6 November 2002; accepted 13 November 2002.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the vasodilation induced by topical application of methyl nicotinate (MN) and to compare it with the vasodilatory response to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in healthy subjects and diabetic neuropathic patients. Research design and methods: Ten diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy (DN) and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (C) were enrolled. The vasodilatory response to topical application of 1% MN and a placebo emulsion at the forearm and dorsum of the foot skin at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min was measured using Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging. The vasodilatory response to iontophoresis of 1% ACh and 1% SNP solutions was also evaluated. Results: The maximal vasodilatory response to ACh, SNP and MN was similar at the forearm and foot level in the diabetic patients. In the control group, the responses to MN, ACh and SNP were similar on the forearm but in the foot, the MN vasodilatory response was higher when compared to the ACh and SNP responses. MN-related vasodilation was present 5 min after the application, reached its peak at 15–30 min and declined to pre-application levels 120 min afterward. Conclusions: Topical application of MN at the forearm and foot levels of diabetic neuropathic patients results in skin vasodilation that is comparable to the maximal vasodilation that can be induced by iontophoresis of ACh or SNP and lasts for less than 2 h. Further studies will be required to explore the potential of MN to increase blood flow and to prevent diabetic foot problems in clinical practice.

Keywords: Laser Doppler, Neuropathy, Smooth muscle cell, Microcirculation, Diabetic foot