Objective: 

In this study, the distribution and the localization the of connective tissue fibers in the rat spleen were investigated.

Methods: 

Albino Wistar rats were divided into diabetic, Vitamin C-treated diabetic and control groups. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of STZ (45 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally. Vitamin C (20 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically for 21 days. Collagen, reticular and elastic fibers were stained by Massons's trichrome, Gomori's silver impregnation and Elastic Van Gieson (EVG) techniques, respectively. The sections were investigated by light microscopy.

Results: 

In the diabetic spleen the reticular fibers were disorganized and they more or less accumulated in the white and the red pulps. Focal reticular fiber thickening was observed in the fiber-dense areas while it was rare in the Vitamin C-treated diabetic group. The collagen fibers were localized into trabeculae, capsules, splenic sinusoids and around central artery, in the diabetic group. There were increased collagen fibers in these regions. In the central artery, elastic fibers could not be detected in the EVG stained diabetic and Vitamin C treated diabetics. However, some of the Vitamin C treated diabetic groups had zigzag shaped elastic fibers in the internal elastic lamina of the splenic artery at the hilum region.

Conclusions: 

Further studies are needed to assess the positive effects of Vitamin C on the connective tissue fibers of the diabetic spleen.