Diabetes-associated hypothalamic neuronal depopulation in the aging Chinese hamster

Age- and diabetes-associated changes in the neuronal density and area of the ventromedial (VMH) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei of the Chinese hamster hypothalamus were analyzed morphometrically. Neuronal density peaked much sooner in diabetic animals than in matched controls, and subsequently declined at a faster rate than did aging, control animals. Nuclear area measurements were depressed in diabetic animals as compared with controls. These findings indicate that diabetes has severe effects on nuclear maturation and dynamics in the Chinese hamster, which may be causally associated with impaired hypothalamus-pituitary function.