Enteric nerves in diabetic rats: Electron microscopic evidence for neuropathy of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing fibres

Abstract
Enteric nerves in the ileum of rats 8 weeks after streptozotocin-induction of diabetes were examined under the electron microscope before and after immunolabeling for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). These studies have provided evidence of degenerative changes in the myenteric nerve fibres of diabetic rats, many of which were shown to contain VIP. It is suggested that VIP-ergic nerves in the gut may play a role in the developent of gastrointestinal dysfunction in diabetes.