Downregulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors mGluR5 and glutamate transporter EAAC1 in the myenteric plexus of the diabetic rat ileum

Abstract

Objective To study the morphologic abnormalities of the myenteric plexus in diabetic rats and to explore the mechanism of their effect on gastrointestinal motility. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into a diabetic group and a control group, Gastric emptying and small intestine transit rates were measured and histologic and molecular changes in glutamatergic nerves in the ileal myenteric plexus were observed, mGluR5 receptor and EAAC1 transporter changes in the diabetic rats were studied using fluorescence immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results Eighteen weeks after the establishment of the diabetic rats model, gastric emptying and small intestine transit rates were found to be significantly delayed in the diabetic group when compared with the control group. The density of glutamatergic ganglia and neurons in the ileal myenterie plexus were significantly decreased in the diabetic group when compared with control group( P < 0.05) and the mGluR5 receptors and EAAC1 transporters were downregulated in the diabetic rats( P < 0.05). Conclusion Decreased glutamatergic enteric ganglia and neurons and decreased mGluR5 receptors and EAAC1 transporters in the intestinal myenteric plexus is one of the mechanisms of diabetic gastroenteropathy in rats.