Objective: To investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal dyskinesis and histologic changes of gastrointestinal myenteric plexus cholinergic and nitrergic neurons in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Methods: 45 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetic group and insulin group. 16 weeks after diabetic model established, gastrointestinal motility of rats was measured and histologic changes of myenteric plexus cholinergic neuron and nitrergic neuron was observed.
Results: Compared with control group, gastrointestinal motility of diabetic group was markedly slow (P < 0.01), the myenteric plexus cholinergic neuron counting of gastric antrum and small intestine were significantly decreased (6.6 +/- 2.9 vs 15.7 +/- 3.8 15.6 +/- 10.3 vs 22.6 +/- 7.4, P < 0.01), yet the number of nitrergic neuron only markedly reduced in gastric antrum (5.3 +/- 1.2 vs 11.8 +/- 2.2, P < 0.01). The gastrointestinal mobility, gastric antrum nitrergic neuron and small intestine cholinergic neuron counting of insulin group were markedly higher than that of diabetic group (P < 0.05), yet lower than that of control group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The gastrointestinal dyskinesis of STZ-induced diabetic rats might be associated with lesions of gastrointestinal myenteric plexus cholinergic neuron and nitrergic neuron. Insulin intensive therapy can partly ameliorate diabetic gastrointesternal dyskinesis.