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 with particular emphasis on the endocrine cells.

METHODS

Immunocytochemical and quantification techniques were used to localize and determine the number of cells containing serotonin and various regulatory peptides.

RESULTS

In the antrum, the gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells were increased in number. In the large intestine, the enteroglucagon and the peptide tyrosine-immunoreactive cells were increased in number, whereas there were fewer serotonin-immunoreactive cells. There were also fewer somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in most gastrointestinal regions. In diabetic mice, the intestine was longer and its mucosa 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 studied. The observed alterations may reflect the effect of indirect factors rather than the diabetes per se.