VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM AND SMOOTH-MUSCLE REMODELING ACCOMPANIES HYPERTROPHY OF INTESTINAL ARTERIOLES IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC RATS

The purpose of this study was to document alterations in endothelial a nd smooth muscle cell morphology of first- and second-order intestinal arterioles after 6 months of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Both li ght and scanning electron microscopic techniques were used to quantita te the changes in the microvasculature. After rendering the first- and second-order intestinal arterioles passive and processing the vessels , it was determined that these microvessels were significantly dilated in the diabetic animals. Further examination revealed that in the dia betic animals, the cross-sectional area of the endothelial layer was i ncreased in both 1A and 2A vessels, and the smooth muscle layer cross- sectional area was significantly increased in 1A vessels. Individual s mooth muscle cells were significantly increased in width in the diabet ic animals, but not in length. These data suggest that in this model o f diabetes in rats, intestinal arteriolar hypertrophy was accompanied by significant remodeling of the arteriolar wall. (C) 1995 Academic Pr ess, Inc.