Structural and ultrastructural analysis of cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hypothalamus from diabetic rats.
Autonomic and peripheral neuropathies are well-described complications in diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is also associated to central nervous system damage. This little-known complication is characterized by impairment of brain functions and electrophysiological changes associated with neurochemical and structural abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate brain structural and ultrastructural changes in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, and cerebellum were obtained from controls and 8 weeks diabetic rats. Light and electron microscope studies showed degenerative changes of neurons and glia, perivascular and mitochondrial swelling, disarrangement of myelin sheath, increased area of myelinated axons, presynaptic vesicle dispersion in swollen axonal boutoms, fragmentation of neurofilaments, and oligodendrocyte abnormalities. In addition, depressive mood was observed in diabetic animals. The brain morphological alterations observed in diabetic animals could be related to brain pathologic process leading to abnormal function, cellular death, and depressive behavioral.
Hernández-Fonseca
Juan P
JP
Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas Dr. Américo Negrette, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo 4001-A, Zulia, Venezuela.
Rincón
Jaimar
J
Pedreañez
Adriana
A
Viera
Ninoska
N
Arcaya
José L
JL
Carrizo
Edgardo
E
Mosquera
Jesús
J
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003863:Depression; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure