Morphoquantitative effects of acute diabetes on the myenteric neurons of the proximal colon of adult rats

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 60; no. 3-A; pp. 576 - 581
• Main Authors: Furlan, Maria Montserrat D P, Molinari, Sônia L, Miranda Neto, Marcílio H de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.09.2002
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Animals; Colon - innervation; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - pathology; Male; Myenteric Plexus - pathology; NADPH Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Neurons - enzymology; Neurons - pathology; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Rats; Rats, Wistar; colo proximal; proximal colon; diabetes agudo; acute diabetes; neurônios mioentéricos; myenteric neurons
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2002000400012

The effects of acute diabetes on the density and size of the myenteric neurons of the proximal colon of adult rats were investigated. The injection of streptozotocin was followed by a period of observation of seven days, during which the diabetic animals showed weight loss, excessive food and water intake, large urinary debt and hyperglicemia. The whole-mounts from the proximal colon were stained with the techniques of Giemsa and of the NADH-diaphorase, and the employment of these techniques made it possible to verify a decrease on the neuronal density and on the cell body size of the myenteric neurons in the colon of the diabetic rats. These observations were discussed in terms of the pathophysiology of the diabetes and the experimental protocol.