Elucidation of the pathophysiology of defecation dysfunction in diabetes from a novel perspective of central nervous system disorders

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19923
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: Oshiro Naomi 杏林大学, 保健学部, 助教 (20646939)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 外肛門括約筋 / 排便機能 / 糖尿病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the motoneurons of the external anal sphincter in diabetic rats and control rats and found no significant difference in the number and size of neurons. This suggests that the central nervous system of the external anal sphincter, which is a voluntary muscle directly involved in bowel function, is not significantly affected by hyperglycemia caused by diabetes.
Previous studies on motoneurons in the lower limbs have reported a reduction in motoneuron size and mentioned the impact on the lower limbs under prolonged hyperglycemic conditions. However, this study yielded different results from previous studies on the lower limbs, suggesting that the motoneurons of the external anal sphincter were less susceptible to the effects of high blood sugar.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

糖尿病はもはや国民病といっても過言でなく、糖尿病患者は様々な合併症がある。その中で本研究では、特に羞恥心を伴う便失禁に着目し、排便機能について調べることとした。便失禁の原因については未だ不明な点が多く、排便機能に重要である随意筋の外肛門括約筋を調べることは学術的意義となる。また、便失禁に対するリハビリテーションは確立されていないため、本研究による成果が新たなリハビリテーションの開発に一助となることで、社会的意義に繋がると考えた。