title: Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on VIP-ergic neurons in the jejunum submucous plexus of diabetic rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil. mad@visaonet.com.br
authors.forename: Marli Aparecida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Defani
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.forename: Maria Raquel Marçal
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: Roberto Barbosa
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bazotte
authors.forename: Marcílio Hubner
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Miranda-Neto
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013311:Streptozocin; D000108:Acetylcarnitine