Diabetic
peripheral neuropathy (
DPN) is one of the common complications in diabetes, affecting more than half of patients with diabetes. L‑carnitine (LC) was recently demonstrated to serve a positive role in ameliorating
DPN. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of LC in ameliorating
DPN. Male Kunming mice were randomly assigned into five groups, including the control group,
diabetes mellitus group, pre‑treatment group, treatment group and post‑treatment group.
Type 2 diabetes was induced in mice using a combination of high‑fat diet and
streptozotocin injection. Subsequently,
peripheral neuropathy was measured and the levels of LC,
insulin and insulin‑like growth factor‑1 (IGF‑1) were detected. When diabetic mice were treated with LC, the levels of IGF‑1 in the plasma and pancreas were increased. In addition,
hyperalgesia, as determined by the tail‑flick test as well as food intake,
body weight and
blood glucose levels were decreased. An amelioration of
demyelination, axonal
atrophy and mitochondria swelling in the nerve fibres of diabetic mice was also observed. The present study demonstrated that LC ameliorated
peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetic mice and the effect of LC may in part be mediated by an increase in local and circulatory IGF‑1 levels.