Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on VIP-ergic neurons in the jejunum submucous plexus of diabetic rats.
The effect of the treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on neurons releasing the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) of the submucous plexus in the jejunum of diabetic rats was the purpose of our investigation. Diabetes (DM) was induced by injecting streptozotocin endoveneously (35 mg/kg). After sacrificing the animals, the jejunum was collected and processed for VIP detection. Four groups were used: C (non-diabetic), CC (non-diabetic treated with ALC), D (diabetic), DC (diabetes treated with ALC). We analyzed the immunoreactivity and the cellular profile of 126 cell bodies. The treatment with ALC improved some aspects of DM. However, it promoted a small increase in the area of neurons from group CC, suggesting a possible neurotrophic effect. Neurons from groups D and DC showed a large increase in their cellular profile and immunoreactivity when compared to C and CC, suggesting a larger concentration of this neurotransmitter within the neurons that produce it. This observation constitutes a recurrent finding in diabetic animals, suggesting that ALC does not interfere in the pathophysiological mechanisms that unchain a higher production and/or neurotransmitter accumulation and increase the profile of the VIP-ergic neurons.
Defani
Marli Aparecida
MA
Departament of Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil. mad@visaonet.com.br
Zanoni
Jacqueline Nelisis
JN
Natali
Maria Raquel Marçal
MR
Bazotte
Roberto Barbosa
RB
de Miranda-Neto
Marcílio Hubner
MH
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007583:Jejunum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013311:Streptozocin; D000108:Acetylcarnitine