Patients with long-standing diabetes commonly suffer from gastric neuromuscular dysfunction (gastropathy) causing symptoms ranging from postprandial bloating to recurrent vomiting. Autonomic neuropathy is generally believed to be responsible for diabetic gastropathy and the underlying impairments in gastric emptying (gastroparesis) and receptive relaxation, but the specific mechanisms have not been elucidated. Recently, it has been recognized that interstitial cells of Cajal generate electrical pacemaker activity and mediate motor neurotransmission in the stomach. Loss or defects in interstitial cells could contribute to the development of diabetic gastroparesis. Gastric motility was characterized in spontaneously diabetic NOD/LtJ mice by measuring gastric emptying and by monitoring spontaneous and induced electrical activity in circular smooth muscle cells. Interstitial cells of Cajal were studied by Kit immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Diabetic mice developed delayed gastric emptying, impaired electrical pacemaking, and reduced motor neurotransmission. Interstitial cells of Cajal were greatly reduced in the distal stomach, and the normally close associations between these cells and enteric nerve terminals were infrequent. Our observations suggest that damage to interstitial cells of Cajal may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic gastropathy.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Abstract|
October 01 2000
Remodeling of networks of interstitial cells of Cajal in a murine model of diabetic gastroparesis.
T Ordög;
T Ordög
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno 89557, USA.
Search for other works by this author on:
I Takayama;
I Takayama
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno 89557, USA.
Search for other works by this author on:
W K Cheung;
W K Cheung
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno 89557, USA.
Search for other works by this author on:
S M Ward;
S M Ward
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno 89557, USA.
Search for other works by this author on:
K M Sanders
K M Sanders
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno 89557, USA.
Search for other works by this author on:
Citation
T Ordög, I Takayama, W K Cheung, S M Ward, K M Sanders; Remodeling of networks of interstitial cells of Cajal in a murine model of diabetic gastroparesis.. Diabetes 1 October 2000; 49 (10): 1731–1739. https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes.49.10.1731
Download citation file: