A form of necrobiosis and atrophy of smooth muscle in diabetic gastric autonomic neuropathy.
Pathological changes identified in the muscular wall of the stomach from two young insulin-dependent diabetic patients suffering from severe gastric autonomic neuropathy are presented. Scattered smooth muscle cells appearing as homogeneous round eosinophilic bodies ("M" bodies) among areas of sub-total smooth muscle cell atrophy together with intercellular collagen proliferation were identified in the muscularis propria of the stomach. Ultrastructurally, the "M" bodies are transformed smooth muscle cells undergoing a form of necrobiosis with peculiar intracellular features. These changes appear characteristic of end-stage diabetic gastric autonomic neuropathy when compared with other pathological conditions involving the gastric wall. The degree and extent of involvement of the various components of the gastric wall are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D001284:Atrophy; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009336:Necrosis; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure