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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2008; 14(42): 6518-6524
Published online Nov 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6518
Myenteric neurons and intestinal mucosa of diabetic rats after ascorbic acid supplementation
Priscila de Freitas, Maria Raquel Marçal Natali, Renata Virginia Fernandes Pereira, Marcilio Hubner Miranda Neto, Jacqueline Nelisis Zanoni
Priscila de Freitas, Maria Raquel Marçal Natali, Renata Virginia Fernandes Pereira, Marcilio Hubner Miranda Neto, Jacqueline Nelisis Zanoni, Department of Morphophysiological Sciences, Enteric Neurons Laboratory, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil
Author contributions: De Freitas P is the principal investigator; Zanoni JN and Miranda Neto MH designed the study; De Freitas P and Pereira RVF contributed data collection; Zanoni JN, De Freitas P and Natali MRM wrote the study and contributed analytic tools.
Supported by Funds from CNPq, No. 133834/2003-4 and Fundação Araucária, No. 023
Correspondence to: Priscila de Freitas, Department of Morphophysiological Sciences H-79, Enteric Neurons Laboratory, State University of Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil. priscilamga2@hotmail.com
Telephone: +55-44-30319319 Fax: +55-44-32614340
Received: May 27, 2008
Revised: July 2, 2008
Accepted: July 9, 2008
Published online: November 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) dietary supplementation on myenteric neurons and epithelial cell proliferation of the jejunum of adult rats with chronic diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: Thirty rats at 90 d of age were divided into three groups: Non-diabetic, diabetic and diabetic treated with AA (DA) (1 g/L). After 120 d of treatment with AA the animals were killed. The myenteric neurons were stained for myosin-V and analyzed quantitatively in an area of 11.2 mm2/animal. We further measured the cellular area of 500 neurons per group. We also determined the metaphasic index (MI) of the jejunum mucosa layer of about 2500 cells in the intestinal crypts, as well as the dimensions of 30 villi and 30 crypts/animal. The data area was analyzed using the Olympus BX40 microscope.

RESULTS: There was an increase of 14% in the neuronal density (792.6 ± 46.52 vs 680.6 ± 30.27) and 4.4% in the cellular area (303.4 ± 5.19 vs 291.1 ± 6.0) respectively of the diabetic group treated with AA when compared to control diabetic animals. There were no significant differences in MI parameters, villi height or crypt depths among the groups.

CONCLUSION: Supplementation with AA in the diabetic animal promoted moderate neuroprotection. There was no observation of alteration of the cellular proliferation of the jejunum mucosa layer of rats with chronic diabetes mellitus with or without supplementation with AA.

Keywords: Ascorbic acid, Diabetes mellitus, Intestinal mucosa layer, Myenteric neurons, Myosin-V