THE DISTRIBUTION OF ENDOCRINE CELL-TYPES OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL MUCOSA IN GENETICALLY DIABETIC (DB DB) MICE/

Background/Aims: Genetically diabetic (db/db) mice are a model for non -insulin-dependent diabetes in humans, The gastrointestinal tracts in 12-week-old db/db and nondiabetic control (db/+) mice were studied wit h particular emphasis on the endocrine cells, Methods: Immunocytochemi cal and quantification techniques were used to localize and determine the number of cells containing serotonin and various regulatory peptid es, Results: In the antrum, the gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells were increased in number. in the large intestine, the enterogluc agon and the peptide tyrosine-immunoreactive cells were increased in n umber, whereas there were fewer serotonin-immunoreactive cells, There were also fewer somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in most gastrointest inal regions. In diabetic mice, the intestine was longer and its mucos a thicker than in control mice, Conclusions: The results indicate that the genetic diabetic (db/db) condition exerts a significant influence on the gastrointestinal tract and on the endocrine cell systems studi ed, The observed alterations may reflect the effect of indirect factor s rather than the diabetes per se.