Abstract

The hyperglycemic metabolic condition found in diabetes mellitus leads to the development of sensory neuropathies and causes delayed and incomplete neuronal regeneration. Diabetic sensory neuropathy has been shown to contribute to the impairment of light touch and low frequency vibratory perception. It is proposed that the regeneration of receptors that detect these sensations will be delayed and incomplete in diabetic animals with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. This study addresses the effects of diabetes on the regeneration of Meissner corpuscles, distal sensory endings that perceive light touch and low frequency vibration.

Corpuscles from 60 diabetic mice, and their age-matched, non-diabetic littermates, were examined for qualitative and quantitative changes following a median nerve cryocrush of the left forepaw. Right forepaws were used for non-crush controls. Digits II and III from both forepaws were formalin-fixed, frozen sectioned and silver-impregnated to allow for light microscopic examination of the neurites. Corpuscular concentration, innervation, complexity and neurite intraepidermal continuations along with neurite branching and caliber were compared among the non-diabetic, diabetic, non-crush and post-crush sections.

Non-diabetic corpuscles regenerated to a characteristic, pre-crush morphology, displaying typical corpuscular concentration, innervation and neurite caliber. Diabetic corpuscles showed a significant delay in regeneration and full corpuscular innervation, complexity and caliber was not achieved by 120 days post-crush. This delayed and incomplete reinnervation seen in diabetic animals could compound the decreased perception of sensations that usually occurs in diabetes.

LLU Discipline

Anatomy

Department

Anatomy

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Pedro B. Nava

Second Advisor

Charles H. Brinegar, Jr.

Third Advisor

John W. Patrickson

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1989

Date (Title Page)

5-1989

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Submucous Plexus; Diabetic Neuropathies -- rehabilitation

Type

Thesis

Page Count

viii; 100

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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