title: Diabetes-induced changes in the morphology and nociceptinergic innervation of the rat uterus.
abstract: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is about 6% across the globe. This prevalence has been reported to increase in the near future. This means that the number of women with DM who would like to get pregnant and have children will also increase. The present study is aimed at investigating the morphological changes observed in the uterus after the onset of DM. The study also examined the pattern of distribution of nociceptin (NC), a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of pain, a major physiological factor during parturition. The study shows a severe atrophy of uteri as early as 15 days post DM and continued until the termination of the eight-week study. This atrophy was confirmed by light microscopy. Electron microscopy study showed atrophy of the columnar cells of the endometrium, reduced myofibril number and destruction of smooth muscle cells in the myometrium of diabetic rats compared to control. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy studies clearly demonstrated the presence of NC in the endometrium, myometrium and on the myofibrils of the smooth muscles of both control and diabetic rat uteri. In addition, NC-positive neurons and varicose fibres were observed in the myometrium of both normal and diabetic rats. However, the expression of NC decreased after the onset of DM. Morphometric analysis showed that the number of NC-labeled cells was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in diabetic rat uteri compared to those of control. In conclusion, DM-induced uterine atrophy is associated with a decrease in the expression of NC in cells, neurons and myofibrils of the rat uterus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Syed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nurulain
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Hameed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotfy
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Starling Bright
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Emerald
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Surya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koturan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kornélia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tekes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. eadeghate@uaeu.ac.ae.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adeghate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D014599:Uterus / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides; D013311:Streptozocin; D000097629:Nociceptin
keywords: Atrophy; Diabetics; Electron microscopy; Immunofluorescence; Neuropeptide; Nociceptin; Uterus