Capillary number and percentage closed in human diabetic sural nerve.

AUTOR(ES)

Dyck, P J

RESUMO

The number of capillaries per mm2, minimum intercapillary distance, number of endothelial nuclei per capillary section, and percentage of capillaries closed were evaluated in transverse sections of fascicles of 45 control and 36 diabetic sural nerves. All controls and patients were prospectively studied to ascertain their diabetic and neuropathic status. An index of pathology was introduced and it was found to provide a sensitive and reliable measurement of the presence and severity of neuropathy. The number of capillaries and minimum intercapillary distance of diabetic nerves were not significantly different from those of controls (P greater than 0.05). Diabetic nerves exhibited a small but statistically significant increase in the number of endothelial nuclei per capillary that was positively correlated with the severity of neuropathy. The most striking abnormality was the statistically significant increase in the percentage of capillaries closed in patients with neuropathy as compared to those without neuropathy and controls. Among diabetics, this percentage increased with the severity of neuropathy (P = 0.008). The two capillary abnormalities that have been demonstrated may play a role in the development of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Documentos Relacionados

• Schwann cell length in unmyelinated fibres of human sural nerve.
• Three dimensional analysis of Schwann cells associated with unmyelinated nerve fibres in human sural nerve.
• Microglia in the human embryonic optic nerve.
• Changes in axonal numbers in developing human trochlear nerve.
• Latent addition in motor and sensory fibres of human peripheral nerve.