Reduction of nerves containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and serotonin, but not neuropeptide Y and catecholamine, in cerebral blood vessels of the 8-week streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat.
The perivascular autonomic nerves of the major blood vessels on the ventral surface of the brain were studied in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat, an animal model for juvenile onset of diabetes. Histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine the pattern and density of perivascular nerves containing catecholamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). A significant reduction in the density and/or fluorescence intensity of 5-HT-immunoreactive nerves was observed in the circle of Willis and its main arterial branches namely: basilar, superior cerebellar, internal carotid, posterior communicating, middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries, while a significant reduction of VIP-immunoreactive nerves was observed in the internal carotid, middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries, but not in the basilar, superior cerebellar and posterior communicating arteries 8 weeks after the onset of diabetes. However, no changes were observed in the density of NPY- and catecholamine-containing nerves. The results are discussed in relation to autonomic neuropathy of the cerebral blood vessels in diabetes.
Lagnado
M L
ML
Crowe
R
R
Lincoln
J
J
Burnstock
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000294:innervation; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000294:innervation*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012701:Serotonin; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D009638:Norepinephrine