The effect of pancreatic islet transplantation and insulin therapy on neuroaxonal dystrophy in sympathetic autonomic ganglia of chronic streptozocin-diabetic rats.
The frequency of neuroaxonal dystrophy was determined in the superior mesenteric/celiac sympathetic ganglia in a streptozocin-treated rat model of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Dystrophic axonopathy was increased 5- to 6-fold in 9-month untreated diabetics compared to age-matched controls. Pancreatic islet transplantation therapy or daily insulin administration prevented the development of dystrophic axonopathy. Transplantation of islets after 6 months of diabetes, a time at which dystrophic axonopathy is well developed, resulted in nearly complete resolution of the neuropathy within 3 months.
Schmidt
R E
RE
Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110.
Plurad
S B
SB
Olack
B J
BJ
Scharp
D W
DW
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D012016:Reference Values
D007328:Insulin