Morphometric characteristics of the vascular bed in the rectus abdominis muscle during correction of diabetic myopathy with mesenchymal stem cells

Myroslav Kritsak; Serhiy Konovalenko; Oleh Kuziv; Oleh Yasinovskyi

Myroslav Kritsak Department of Surgery, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
Serhiy Konovalenko Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Oleh Kuziv Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
Oleh Yasinovskyi Department of Operative Surgery and Clinical Anatomy, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, microangiopathy, insulin resistance, skeletal muscle, regenerative medicine

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the morphometric characteristics of the vascular bed in the rectus abdominis muscle and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in an experimental model of type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted on 30 rats divided into three groups: control, untreated diabetes, and diabetes treated with MSCs. Morphometric, histological, and statistical methods were employed. It was established that the progression of diabetes is accompanied by inward hypertrophic remodeling of the arteries: the Voganworth index increased to (38.5±3.41) %, while the vascular lumen narrowed to (18.9±1.23) μm. Significant endothelial destruction (31.6±3.40) % and mucoid swelling of the vascular wall were observed. The administration of MSCs led to a significant correction of the metabolic profile and initiated reverse remodeling processes. In the MSC-treated group, there was an expansion of the arterial lumen, a reduction in media thickness to (5.53±0.46) μm, and a 2.6-fold decrease in the volume of endothelial damage compared to the untreated diabetic group. Histological analysis confirmed the stabilization of the connective tissue matrix and regression of vascular wall edema under the influence of cell therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit a pronounced angioprotective effect, restoring the microvascular architecture and improving tissue insulin sensitivity, which highlights their potential for the treatment of diabetic myopathy.