Vicky R. Ras

Abstract

This thesis is based on a qualitative and quantitative study of the neural component of Meissner corpuscles of diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Age-related changes were also documented in these mechanoreceptors. Corpuscles from forty-six diabetic mice and forty-six non-diabetic mice ranging from 2.5 to 17 months old were studied. Forepaw index digital pads were formalin-fixed and frozen-sectioned parallel to each digit and perpendicular to the skin. Serial sections were then silver-impregnated to allow light microscopic examination of the neurites in the corpuscles.

Neurites became more coarse, tortuous, branched, varicose, and thus more complex until middle age. Corpuscle size appeared greatest at middle age, smallest at young age. Neurites from diabetic mice were less coarse, less tortuous, and exhibited decreased varicosity as well as decreased corpuscle size compared to those from non-diabetic mice.

The number of corpuscles per area and neurite intraepidermal continuations per area decreased with age and with diabetes. Projected area and width of neurites, measured within a fixed interval on camera lucida tracings, increased with age and decreased with diabetes. Complexity was unchanged between diabetics and non-diabetics.

The general trend of these changes suggests the thesis that axonal dwindling, a characteristic of peripheral nerves in diabetes, extends to the receptors and that it is due to a maturational deficit, rather than shrinkage.

LLU Discipline

Anatomy

Department

Anatomy

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Pedro B. Nava, Jr.

Second Advisor

Paul J. McMillan

Third Advisor

Charles H. Brinegar

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1984

Date (Title Page)

8-1984

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Nerve Endings; Diabetic Neuropathies

Type

Thesis

Page Count

2; viii

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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