Randomized Controlled Trial
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 7, 2014; 20(25): 8260-8267
Published online Jul 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8260
ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis are activated in gastric SMCs in diabetic rats
Xia Chen, Xiang-Sheng Fu, Chang-Ping Li, Hong-Xian Zhao
Xia Chen, Xiang-Sheng Fu, Chang-Ping Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Hong-Xian Zhao, Department of Histology and Embryology, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Chen X and Zhao HX performed the experiments and data analysis, and wrote the manuscript; Fu XS provided analytical tools, intellectual input and advice; Li CP contributed to the conceptual design; all the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by A grant from the Department of Health, Sichuan Province, China, No. 070267
Correspondence to: Hong-Xian Zhao, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Luzhou Medical College, No. 25, Taiping Street, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. 970217858@qq.com
Telephone: +86-830-3161222 Fax: +86-830-3161222
Received: January 1, 2014
Revised: March 4, 2014
Accepted: April 5, 2014
Published online: July 7, 2014
Processing time: 182 Days and 22.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Endoplasmic reticulum stress and/or ER stress-induced apoptosis in the etiology of diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) remain unclear. This study focuses on the muscle injury caused by ER stress in rats with DGP. We found that apoptosis of gastric smooth muscle cells (SMCs) increased in diabetic rats in addition to increased expression of the ER stress marker, glucose-regulated protein 78, and the ER-specific apoptosis mediator, caspase-12. This is the first study to demonstrate that ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis are activated in gastric SMCs in diabetic rats.