Prevention of neuropathy in the pyloric sphincter of streptozotocin-diabetic rats by gangliosides.
BACKGROUND
The effect of diabetes on the density of peptide-containing nerves in the pyloric sphincter of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and the possible preventive action of the ganglioside mixture AGF1 on the diabetes-induced changes were investigated.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical techniques were used to localize the general neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 and the neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide, [met]-enkephalin, neuropeptide Y, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.


RESULTS
The density of neurones showing immunoreactivity to the above peptides in nerves supplying the thickened circular muscle layer of the pyloric sphincter was reduced extensively in diabetic rats. In the ganglioside-treated diabetic animals, this reduction was prevented; indeed, calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in the ganglioside-treated diabetic rats exceeded that seen in control animals. In the ganglioside-treated controls, there was no significant difference in the peptide immunoreactivity from that of untreated controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study show that the ganglioside mixture AGF1 is effective in protecting the nerves of the pyloric sphincter from diabetes-induced changes.
Soediono
P
P
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College of London, England.
Belai
A
A
Burnstock
G
G
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D011708:Pylorus / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D005732:Gangliosides; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide