[Changes of the innervation in the mucous membrane and glands of the tongue in early and late experimental diabetes mellitus].

The number of the different neuropeptides-containing nerve fibres and immunocompetent cells was changed in diabetes mellitus (DM) in different organs. In this work we investigated the effect of DM on quantitation of the nerve fibres using immunhistochemistry. After two weeks of the DM the quantitiy of the different nerve fibres increased significantly both in the mucous membrane and glands of the tongue. The number of the immunocompetent cells (lymphocytes, plasma cells, mast cells) increased as well significantly. Some of these cells showed also immunoreactivity for substance P and neuropeptide Y. A few substance P cells were in very close relation to the SP immunoreactive nerve fibres. After four weeks of DM the number of the nerve fibres was decreased compared to the 2 weeks treatment, however, the number of them was higher compared to the control. The close correlation between the nerve fibres and immune cells might play a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis in the mucous membrane and glands of the tongue as well as in the increasing inflammation and elimination of it.