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Pregression of perineurial cell basement membrane in a human diabetic following isogenic pancreas transplant

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Summary

Perineurial cell basement membrane (PCBM) thickening is a consistent feature in diabetes mellitus (DM) and may have relevance to the cause of DM neuropathy. In this ultrastructural morphometric study of identical twins discordant for DM, we found that the PCBM was significantly thicker in the dermal nerves of the diabetic twin. Following pancreas transplantation (PT) and a 2-year period of euglycemia, the PCBM in both dermal and sural nerves was significantly thinner. At the end of the 2nd year post-PT, the PCBM thickness in the dermal nerves of the diabetic was not significantly different from the non-DM twin. The correction of diabetic dysmetabolism may have played a role in the regression of PCBM. These data suggest that PCBM thickening may not be a permanent legacy of DM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuropathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., 85013, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    J. L. Beggs, P. C. Johnson, A. G. Olafsen & C. J. Watkins

  2. Department of Endocrinology, St. Luke's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz., USA

    J. H. Targovnik

  3. Department of Surgery, St. Luke's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz., USA

    L. J. Koep

Authors
  1. J. L. Beggs
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  2. P. C. Johnson
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  3. A. G. Olafsen
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  4. C. J. Watkins
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  5. J. H. Targovnik
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  6. L. J. Koep
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Additional information

Supported in part by grant No. RO1-DK38163-01 from the National Institutes of Health and in part by a grant from the Diabetes Research and Education Foundation

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Beggs, J.L., Johnson, P.C., Olafsen, A.G. et al. Pregression of perineurial cell basement membrane in a human diabetic following isogenic pancreas transplant. Acta Neuropathol 79, 108–112 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308966

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