Related Experiment Videos
Vagus nerve morphology in diabetic gastropathy
S T Britland1, R J Young, A K Sharma
1Anatomy Department, Aberdeen University, UK.
Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Diabetic gastropathy involves nerve and capillary damage in the vagus nerve. While vagal neuropathy contributes to this condition, severe symptoms suggest other factors are also involved.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Diabetic gastropathy presents with intractable vomiting, often treated surgically.
- The role of vagal nerve integrity in diabetic gastropathy requires further elucidation.
Observation:
- Morphometric analysis of resected abdominal vagi was conducted.
- Patients included those with diabetic gastropathy and controls with duodenal ulceration (diabetic and non-diabetic).
Findings:
- All diabetic patients exhibited reduced myelinated nerve fiber density, unmyelinated fiber degeneration/regeneration, and thickened capillary basement membranes.
- These pathological changes were more severe in diabetic patients with gastropathy, yet intact nerve fibers persisted.
Implications:
- Vagal neuropathy is a potential contributing factor to diabetic gastropathy.
- Severe diabetic gastropathy and vomiting may involve mechanisms beyond simple vagal nerve dysfunction (autovagotomy).
- Structural autonomic nerve changes can occur in diabetes even without overt symptoms or detectable physiological abnormalities.