Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enteric nerves in diabetic rats: Electron microscopic evidence for neuropathy of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibres

  • Original Works
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Enteric nerves in the ileum of rats 8 weeks after streptozotocin-induction of diabetes were examined under the electron microscope before and after immunolabeling for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). These studies have provided evidence of degenerative changes in the myenteric nerve fibres of diabetic rats, many of which were shown to contain VIP. It is suggested that VIP-ergic nerves in the gut may play a role in the developent of gastrointestinal dysfunction in diabetes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baumgarten HG, Holstein AF, Owman CH (1970) Auerbach's plexus of mammals and man: electron microscopic identification of three different types of neuronal processes in myenteric ganglia of large intestine from rhesus monkey, guinea-pigs and man. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 106:376–397

    Google Scholar 

  2. Belai A, Lincoln J, Milner P, Crow R, Loesch A, Burnstock G (1985) Enteric nerves in diabetic rats: increase in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide but not substance P. Gastroenterology 89:967–976

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bryant MG, Polak JM, Modlin I, Bloom SR, Albuquerque RH, Pearse AGE (1976) Possible dual role of vasoactive intestinal peptide as gastrointestinal hormone and transmitter substance. Lancet I:991–993

    Google Scholar 

  4. Clarke BF, Ewing DJ, Campbell IW (1979) Diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Diabetologia 17:195–212

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cook RD, Burnstoek G (1976) The ultrastructure of Auerbach's plexus in the guinea-pig. I. Neuronal elements. J Neurocytol 5:171–194

    Google Scholar 

  6. Elde RP, Hökfelt T, Johansson O, Terenius L (1976) Immunocytochemical studies using antibodies to leucineenkephalin: initial observations on the nervous system of the rat. Neuroscience 1:349–351

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gabella G (1972) Fine structure of the myenteric plexus in the guinea-pig ileum. J Anat 111:69–97

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gabella G (1979) Innervation of the gastrointestinal tract. Int Rev Cytol 59:129–193

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gabella G (1981) Structure of muscles and nerves in the gastrointestinal tract. In: Johnson LR, Christensen J, Grossman MI, Jacobson ED, Schuliz SG (eds) Physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, vol 1. Raven Press, New York, pp 197–241

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gershon MD (1981) The enteric nervous system. Annu Rev Neurosci 4:227–272

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hámori J, Láng E, Simon L (1968) Experimental degeneration of preganglionic fibres in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat. An electron microscopic study. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 90:37–52

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hökfelt T, Efendić S, Hellerström C, Johnansson O, Luft R, Arimura A (1975) Cellular localization of somatostatin in endocrine-like cells and neurons of the rat with special references to the A1-cells of the pancreatic islets and to the hypothalamus. Acta Endocrinol 80:[Suppl] (Copenh) 200: 5–41

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hosking DJ, Bennett T, Hampton JR (1978) Diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes 27:1043–1055

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hoyes AD, Sikri KL, Barber P (1982) Localization of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the intramural nerve plexuses of the guinea-pig stomach using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. J Anat 135:319–332

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jessen KR, Saffrey MJ, Van Noorden S, Bloom SR, Polak JM, Burnstock G (1980) Immunolhistochemical studies of the enteric nervous system in tissue culture and in situ: localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance-P and enkephalin immunoreactive nerves in the guinea-pig gut. Neuroscience 5:1717–1735

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kalimo H, Rinne UK (1972) Ultrastructural studies on the hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons of the rat. II. The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 134:205–225

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kishimoto S, Kunita S, Kambara A, Okamoto K, Shimiju S, Yamamoto M, Koh H, Sano K, Kajiyama G, Miyoshi A, Yanaihara N (1983) VIP-ergic innervation in the gastrointestinal tract of diabetic rats. Hiroshima J Med Sci 32:469–478

    Google Scholar 

  18. Komuro T, Baluk P, Burnstock G (1982) An ultrastructural study of nerve profiles in the myenteric plexus of the rabbit colon. Neuroscience 7:295–305

    Google Scholar 

  19. Larson L-I (1977) Ultrastructural localization of a new neuronal peptide (VIP). Histochemistry 54:173–176

    Google Scholar 

  20. Larsson L-I, Fahrenkrug J, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell O, Sundler F, Håkanson R, Rehfeld IF (1976) Localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) to central and peripheral neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 73:3197–3200

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leander S, Håkanson R, Sundler F (1981) Nerves containing substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, enkephalin or somatostatin in the guinea-pig taenia coli. Cell Tissue Res 215:21–39

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lincoln J, Bokor JT, Crowe R, Griffith SG, Haven AJ, Burnstock G (1984) Myenteric plexus in streptozotocin-treated rats. Neurochemical and histochemical evidence for diabetic neuropathy in the gut. Gastroenterology 86:654–661

    Google Scholar 

  23. Loesch A, Burnstock G (1985) Ultrastructural identification of VIP-containing nerve fibres in the myenteric plexus of the rat ileum. J Neurocytol 14:327–335

    Google Scholar 

  24. McNurlan MA, Garlick PJ (1981) Protein synthesis in liver and small intestine in protein deprivation and diabetes. Am J Physiol 241:238–245

    Google Scholar 

  25. Monckton G, Pehowich E (1980) Autonomic neuropathy in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Can J Neurol Sci 7:135–142

    Google Scholar 

  26. Nakayama H, Ito M, Nakagawa S (1974) Influence of diet on intestinal DNA synthesis in the diabetic rat. Diabetes 23:793–795

    Google Scholar 

  27. Nelson JS, Lacy PE, Hirshberg GE (1976) Megacolon and autonomic neuropathy in diabetic rats. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 35:335

    Google Scholar 

  28. Norström A (1974) The heterogenity of the neurohypophysial pool of neurophysin. In: Knowles F, Vollrath L (eds) Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on neurosecretion. Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 89–93

    Google Scholar 

  29. Norström A, Hansson HA (1972) Isolation and characterization of neurosecretory granules of the rat posterior pituitary gland. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 129:92–113

    Google Scholar 

  30. Polak JM, Bloom SR, Sullivan SN, Facer P, Pearse AGE (1977) Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the human gastrointestinal tract. Lancet I:972–974

    Google Scholar 

  31. Probert L, De Mey J, Polak JM (1981) Distinct subpopulations of enteric p-type neurones contain substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Nature 294:470–471

    Google Scholar 

  32. Probert L, De Mey J, Polak JM (1983) Ultrastructural localization of four different neuropeptides within separate populations of p-type nerves in the guinea-pig colon. Gastroenterology 85:1094–1104

    Google Scholar 

  33. Schmidt RE, Nelson JS, Johnson EM (1981) Experimental diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Am J Pathol 103:210–225

    Google Scholar 

  34. Schmidt RE, Plurad SB, Modert CW (1983) Experimental diabetic autonomic neuropathy characterization in streptozotocin-diabetic Spragne-Dawley rats. Lab Invest 49:538–553

    Google Scholar 

  35. Schmidt H, Riemann JF, Schmid A, Sailer D (1984) Ultrastruktur der diabetischen autonomen Neuropathie des Gastrointestinaltraktes. Klin Wochenschr 62:399–405

    Google Scholar 

  36. Schultzberg M, Höfelt T, Nilsson G, Terenius L, Rehfeld JF, Brown M, Elde RP, Goldstein M, Said S (1980) Distribution of peptide-and catecholamine-containing neurons in the gastrointestinal tract of rat and guinea-pig: immunohistochemical studies with antisera to substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, enkephalins, somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, neurotensin and dopamine beta-hydroxylase. Neuroscience 5:689–744

    Google Scholar 

  37. Scott LD, Ellis TM (1980) Small intestinal transit and myoelectrical activity in diabetic rat. Can J Neurol Sci 7:135–142

    Google Scholar 

  38. Silverman AJ (1976) Ultrastructural studies on the localization of neurohypophysial hormones and their carrier proteins. J Histochem Cytochem 24:816–827

    Google Scholar 

  39. Taxi J (1965) Contribution a l'étude des connexions des neurones moteurs du système nerveux autonomie. Ann Sci Nat Zool Biol Anim 12:413–647

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. A. Loesch

    Present address: Laboratory of the Ultrastructure of the Nervous System, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Dworkowa Street, 00-784, Warsaw, Poland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

    A. Loesch, A. Belai, J. Lincoln & G. Burnstock

  2. Centre for Neuroscience, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

    A. Loesch, A. Belai, J. Lincoln & G. Burnstock

Authors
  1. A. Loesch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Belai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Lincoln
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Burnstock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by grant from the Wellcome Trust Foundation (A. Loesch), World University Service, UK (A. Belai), and British Diabetic Association

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Loesch, A., Belai, A., Lincoln, J. et al. Enteric nerves in diabetic rats: Electron microscopic evidence for neuropathy of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibres. Acta Neuropathol 70, 161–168 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691434

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691434

Key words

Search

Navigation