Experimental diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
The regular occurrence of autonomic neuropathy, colonic dilatation, and loss of fecal consistency was investigated in streptozotocin-diabetic, age-matched control, and pancreatic-islet--transplanted rats using ultrastructural, histochemical, and biochemical methods. Degenerating unmyelinated axons were observed by electron microscopy in the colonic submucosa and muscularis, ileal mesentery, and splenic pedicle in 5--7 months diabetic animals; similar changes were not found in control rats or animals subjected to islet transplantation three weeks after induction of diabetes and sacrificed 4--6 months later (colon only). Regenerative changes, including axons with identifiable growth cones, were demonstrated in the mesenteric nerves of chronically diabetic animals. Formaldehyde-induced catecholamine fluorescence and cholinesterase histochemistry suggested deficiencies in colonic adrenergic and cholinergic innervation; histochemical findings in islet-transplanted animals were comparable to those of untreated control animals. Biochemical measurements of the adrenergic and cholinergic nervous system marker enzymes dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase, respectively, in colon and spleen confirm a deficit in adrenergic (colon and spleen) and cholinergic (colon) innervation in chronically diabetic animals.
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis; D007082:Ileum / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000294:innervation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013154:Spleen / Q000294:innervation; D013311:Streptozocin
D013311:Streptozocin; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase