title: Effects of L-glutamine supplementation on the myenteric neurons from the duodenum and cecum of diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral neuropathy is one of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and is directly related to gastrointestinal consequences of the disease. Myenteric neurons are affected in some pathological conditions such as diabetic neuropathy. The imbalance between cellular antioxidants and free radicals, leading to an increase in oxidative stress, is considered one of the main factors responsible for neuronal damages in diabetes. Drugs that reduce the oxidative stress may play a significant role in the treatment of neurological complications of diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of L-glutamine supplementation on the myenteric neurons from the cecum and duodenum of Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were divided in four groups (n = 5): non-treated normoglycemics, normoglycemics treated with L-glutamine, non-treated diabetics and diabetics treated with L-glutamine from the 4th day of diabetes induction on. The amino acid L-glutamine was added to their diet at 1%. Giemsa's technique was employed to stain the myenteric neurons. We determined the cell body area of 500 neurons in each group studied. The quantitative analysis was performed by sampling in an area of 16.6 mm² in the cecum and 3.6 mm² in the duodenum of each animal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the supplementation with L-glutamine in the duodenum, we observed a preservation of neuronal density in groups normoglycemic and diabetic (P<0.05). We also observed a preservation of the cell bodies area in diabetic animals (group treated with L-glutamine) (P<0.05). In the cecum, that preservation was not evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with L-glutamine (1%) promoted a neuroprotective effect on the myenteric neurons from the duodenum of rats, both in terms of natural aging and of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.forename: Eleandro Aparecido
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tronchini
authors.forename: Sheila Alves
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moure
authors.forename: Ivan Domicio da Silva
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004386:Duodenum / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D013311:Streptozocin