Italiano G, Petrelli L, Marin A, Guidolin D, Venturin G, Pescatori E S, Aragona F, Pagano F, Triban C, Calabrò A
Fidia Research Laboratories, Padua, Italy.
Int J Impot Res. 1993 Sep;5(3):149-60.
The present study was designed to investigate whether experimental diabetes determines structural changes in peripheral nerves involved in reflexogenic erection, namely the cavernous and the dorsal nerve of the penis. Myelinated axons were examined in the dorsal nerve of the penis from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (3- and 6-month duration). Morphometric analysis disclosed a significant decrease of myelinated fibre size most likely due to a progressive axonal atrophy. In addition, morphological analysis revealed diffuse accumulation of glycogen within axons, lipid droplets in Schwann cells and pronounced sequestration of axoplasm by adaxonal Schwann cell processes. These signs were particularly prominent in 6-month-diabetic rats. Myelinated and unmyelinated axons of the cavernous nerve were analysed in 6-month-diabetic animals. No substantial ultrastructural abnormalities were found in the cavernous nerves. These results suggest that in experimental diabetes regionally specific structural changes occur in neuronal pathways subserving erectile function.
本研究旨在调查实验性糖尿病是否会导致参与反射性勃起的外周神经（即阴茎海绵体神经和背神经）发生结构变化。对链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病（病程3个月和6个月）大鼠的阴茎背神经中的有髓轴突进行了检查。形态计量分析显示，有髓纤维大小显著减小，很可能是由于轴突进行性萎缩所致。此外，形态学分析显示轴突内糖原弥漫性积聚、施万细胞内有脂滴，且轴突周围施万细胞突起对轴浆有明显的隔离作用。这些迹象在病程6个月的糖尿病大鼠中尤为明显。对病程6个月的糖尿病动物的海绵体神经的有髓和无髓轴突进行了分析。在海绵体神经中未发现实质性超微结构异常。这些结果表明，在实验性糖尿病中，维持勃起功能的神经元通路会发生区域特异性结构变化。
