Diabetes Metab J.  2018 Apr;42(2):169-172. 10.4093/dmj.2018.42.2.169.

Morphologic Comparison of Peripheral Nerves in Adipocyte Tissue from db/db Diabetic versus Normal Mice

• Lee KA
• Lee NY
• Park TS
• Jin HY

• KMID: 2418710
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2018.42.2.169

Abstract

Present study investigated the morphologic changes of autonomic nerves in the adipose tissue in diabetic animal model. Male obese type 2 diabetic db/db mice and age matched non-diabetic db/m control mice were used. Epididymal adipose tissue from diabetic db/db mice with that from control heterozygous db/m mice was compared using confocal microscopy-based method to visualize intact whole adipose tissue. Immunohistochemistry with tyrosine hydroxylase for sympathetic (SP), choline acetyltransferase for parasympathetic (PSP), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) for whole autonomic nerves was performed. The quantity of immunostained portion of SP, PSP, and PGP 9.5 stained nerve fibers showed decreased trend in diabetic group; however, the ratio of SP/PSP of adipose tissue was higher in diabetic group compared with control group as follows (0.70±0.30 vs. 0.95±0.25, P < 0.05; normal vs. diabetic, respectively). Both SP and PSP nerve fibers were observed in white adipose tissue and PSP nerve fibers were suggested as more decreased in diabetes based on our observation.

Keyword

Adipose tissue; Diabetes mellitus; Neuropathy; Peripheral nerves

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes*
Adipose Tissue
Adipose Tissue, White
Animals
Autonomic Pathways
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
Diabetes Mellitus
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Methods
Mice*
Models, Animal
Nerve Fibers
Peripheral Nerves*
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Quantitative comparison of peripheral nerves in adipose tissue from db/db diabetic mice versus those from db/− control mice. (A) Quantity of PGP 9.5 (protein gene product 9.5)-positive immunostained nerve fibers, expressed as the total nerve fiber area. (B) Ratios of the occupied areas of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. (C) Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; red) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT; blue) immunohistochemistry staining results of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers, respectively. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation (n=10 per group). DM, diabetes mellitus. aP<0.05 vs. the normal group.

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