Morphological comparison of small nerve fibres in gastric mucosa in non-diabetic and Type 2 diabetic subjects

Aim To determine changes in small nerve fibres in gastric mucosa in patients with Type 2 diabetes by morphological observation. Methods In twenty-five non-diabetic and 21 Type 2 diabetic participants, gastric mucosal biopsy under endoscopy was performed. Innervation in gastric mucosa was detected using immunohistochemical staining. Anti-protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 positive nerves underwent morphological observation and quantitative analysis. Results Small nerve fibres in gastric mucosa were shortened in the diabetic subjects. The ratio of gastric mucosal protrusions maintaining nerve fibres between gastric pits to total observed protrusions was lower in patients with Type 2 diabetes compared with the non-diabetic subjects (ratio of innervated protrusion/total protrusion: 0.49 ± 0.12 vs. 0.89 ± 0.06, P