Ghrelin cell density in the gastrointestinal tracts of animal models of human diabetes

J. Rauma, A. Spångéus and M. El-Salhy

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine,University Hospital, Linköping, and Department of Medicine, Höglands Hospital Eksjö, Sweden

Offprint requests to: Magdy El-Salhy, ND, PhD, Professor/Consultant gastroenterologist, Head, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrine-Gastroenterlogy Clinic, University Hospital, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden. e-mail: magdy.el-salhy@imk.liu.se


Summary. Ghrelin cell density in the gastrointestinal tract of animal models of human diabetes type 1 and 2 was investigated. The animals used were non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and obese diabetic mice. Ghrelin cells were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by computerized image analysis. Ghrelin-immunoreactive cells were detected in all animals studied. They were abundant in the oxyntic mucosa, patchy and few in the duodenum and rare in the colon. The density of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells decreased in diabetic, pre-diabetic NOD mice and in obese diabetic mice as compared to controls, though not statistically significant. It was concluded that the reduced density of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in animal models of human diabetes type 1 and 2 might explain the slow gastric emptying and slow intestinal transit found in diabetes gastroenteropathy. Histol Histopathol 21,1-5 (2006)

Key words: Ghrelin, Diabetes gastroenteropathy, NOD-mice, Obese-diabetic mice

DOI: 10.14670/HH-21.1