Intestinal endothelial dysfunction may have a role in the development of myenteric nerve damage in a rat model of diabetes mellitus

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated that the nitrergic subpopulation of myenteric neurons is especially susceptible to neurodegenerative changes in a streptozotocine-induced rat model of diabetes. The loss of modulatory role of endothelium in capillaries supplying the myenteric plexus has been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying enteric neuropathy. Aim of the present studies was to elucidate the relationship between the diabetes-associated neuronal and vascular damage. Therefore we investigated the quantitative change in nitrergic myenteric neurons, the change in the thickness of basal la…