ABNORMALITIES OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF THE DUODENUM IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The changes in sensitivity of the rat duodenum to ATP were examined in preparations from control rats and from rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. ATP was able to relax the duodenum of control animals in a concentration-dependent manner and this relaxation was significantly increased in STZ-diabetic rats. In preparations from diabetic rats, relaxation responses to ATP were greater than those of age-matched control groups. These results suggest that functional changes or degeneration of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves in the myenteric plexus may occur in STZ-diabetic rats, and that these alterations may result in the increased sensitivity of the relaxation of the duodenum to ATP.