Diabetes Mellitus Type1 and Neuronal Degeneration in Ventral and Dorsal Hippocampus

Background and Objectives: Studies have documented the morhplogical, neurochemical and functional difference between the dorsal and ventral zones of hippocampus. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic diabetes mellitus type1 on ventral and dorsal zones of hippocampus. Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced by stereptozotocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg. At the end of 8 weeks the brains were removed and stained by cresyl violet. The number of dark neurons in CA1 and CA3 regions of dorsal and ventral zones of hippocampus was counted by modified stereological method. Results: The number of dead neurons in CA3 ventral showed significant level of difference (P < 0.05) in comparison to CA3 dorsal. The number of dead neurons in CA1 ventral and CA1 dorsal showed also significant difference (P < 0.05) Conclusion: The results of our study Provide evidence that is indicative of more vulnerability of ventral zone than dorsal zone of hippocampus to diabetes mellitus type 1.