Hyperplasia and growth of the true mesentery in the diabetic rat

The true mesentery was studied in rats 4 weeks after they had been rendered diabetic with streptozotocin. The diabetic animals showed elongation and enlargement of the small intestine despite reduced body growth compared with controls of the same age. The mesentery in diabetic animals showed increased total area and contained an increased number of "windows", but the increment of total protein, DNA, and histamine (a marker of mast cells) was non-uniform and less than the increase in area. There appeared to be a close relationship between hyperplasia of the small intestine and its mesentery. The number of mast cells yielded by peritoneal lavage was increased in the diabetics. We suggest that our observation of the hyperplastic mesenteric reaction in diabetic rats may make a useful model for the study of growth, profiferation, and function of the mesentery available.