title: Vitamins C and E (ascorbate/α-tocopherol) provide synergistic neuroprotection in the jejunum in experimental diabetes.
abstract: The present study evaluated the synergistic effects of the association of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol on myenteric in the jejunum of diabetic rats. The rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: untreated normoglycemic (UC), untreated diabetic (UD), ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol-treated normoglycemic (CAE) and ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol-treated diabetic (DAE). The rats from the CAE and DAE group received supplementation with ascorbic acid (1g/L in water) and α-tocopherol (1% in chow). At 210-days-old, the animals were sacrified and their jejunum was collected and submitted to immunohistochemistry. Quantitative and/or morphometric analysis were performed. Supplementation with ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol prevented the cell loss of myenteric neurons expressing HuC/D and TrkA in an equivalent proportion. We also observed a reduction of the CGRP nerve fiber varicosities and the prevention of the increased cell body size of submucosal VIP neurons (p<0.05). The association of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol reduced the deleterious effects of diabetes promoting protection on the enteric neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Education, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, 86360-000 Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano Massao
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tashima
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79400-000 Coxim, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Catchia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermes-Uliana
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Vanessa Colombo Martins
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Perles
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcilio Hubner
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Miranda Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: jnzanoni@uem.br.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
keywords: Antioxidant; Diabetes mellitus; Enteric nervous system; Neuropathy; Oxidative stress; Supplementation