Autonomic neuropathy involving the alimentary tract of several strains of inbred rats with chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetes has been characterized using ultra structural methods. Markedly enlarged unmyelinated axons in the Heal mesentery of diabetic rats contain a variety of normal and unusual subcellular organelles similar to those described in experimental and clinical axonal dystrophies, these axonal alterations were seen after 6, 9, and 12 mo of diabetes, apparently increasing in frequency with time; lesions were absent, however, after only 3½ mo of diabetes. An apparent proximo-distal gradient in the frequency of unmyelinated axonal lesions in this system suggests experimental diabetic autonomic neuropathy may represent an example of distal axonopathy. In addition, we have demonstrated an association of dystrophic axons with regenerative structures, including growth cones and clusters of filopodia.
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Original contribution|
September 01 1982
Axonal Dystrophy in Experimental Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy
Robert E Schmidt;
Robert E Schmidt
Departments of Pathology (NSuropathology) and Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
660 South Euclid, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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David W Scharp
David W Scharp
Departments of Pathology (NSuropathology) and Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
660 South Euclid, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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Address reprint requests to Robert E. Schmidt, M.D., Ph.D., at the above address.
Diabetes 1982;31(9):761–770
Article history
Received:
January 29 1982
Revision Received:
April 13 1982
Accepted:
April 13 1982
PubMed:
7160544
Citation
Robert E Schmidt, David W Scharp; Axonal Dystrophy in Experimental Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy. Diabetes 1 September 1982; 31 (9): 761–770. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.31.9.761
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