Till Örebro universitet

Ghrelin cell density in the gastrointestinaltract of animal models of human diabetes type 1 and 2was investigated. The animals used were non-obesediabetic (NOD) mice and obese diabetic mice. Ghrelincells were detected by immunohistochemistry andquantified by computerized image analysis. Ghrelin-immunoreactive cells were detected in all animalsstudied. They were abundant in the oxyntic mucosa,patchy and few in the duodenum and rare in the colon.The density of ghrelin-immunoreactive cells decreasedin diabetic, pre-diabetic NOD mice and in obese diabeticmice as compared to controls, though not statisticallysignificant. It was concluded that the reduced density ofghrelin-immunoreactive cells in animal models ofhuman diabetes type 1 and 2 might explain the slowgastric emptying and slow intestinal transit found indiabetes gastroenteropathy.