Peripheral nerves of diabetic rats were studied 2 years after alloxan injection. We observed demyelination and remyelination, axonal degeneration and regeneration, reduplication of basal laminae around vessels and Schwann's cells, as well as onion bulb formation by proliferated Schwann's cells. Crystalline deposits composed of aggregates of fibrillary electron dense material often occurred in vessel walls and endoneurium of diabetic animals but rarely were seen in nerves from age-matched control animals. Glycogen accumulated in myelinated and unmyelinated axons within mitochondria. Axoplasmic inclusions resembling Lafora's bodies and the inclusions of glycogenosis type IV were frequent and often were accompanied by deposits of particulate glycogen. The findings suggest that the neuropathy in alloxan diabetes is caused by metabolic impairment of anxons, Schwann's cells, and vessels, leading to segmental demyelination and axonal degeneration.
Alloxan diabetes was induced in inbred rats that then were divided into four groups consisting of unoperated diabetic controls, sham-operated diabetic controls, rats given pancreaticoduodenal isografts, and rats given duct-ligated pancreas isografts. The animals were studied for from 18 months (controls) to two years (transplants) and the following important results were obtained: 1) In striking contrast to the diabetic controls, pancreas transplants of both types produced immediate and permanent relief of hyperglycemia, immediate and lasting elevation of serum insulin levels, a normal weight and growth curve, and good health for two years. Removal of the graft was followed by recurrence of severe diabetes. 2) Pancreas transplants of both types prevented the widespread and severe renal, ophthalmic and neural lesions of diabetes that were found in the diabetic controls. 3) The duct-ligated pancreas graft and pancreaticoduodenal transplant were equally effective in controlling diabetes. Ligation of the pancreatic duct was not followed by significant morphologic or clinical evidence of pancreatitis or by loss of endocrine function. 4) Portal venous drainage of the pancreas transplant was unnecessary for good endocrine function.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.