Three-dimensional geometry analysis of the stomach in type II diabetic GK rats

The stomach is affected in more than half of all diabetic patients. The present study aims to investigate 3D geometry, 3D tension distribution and the elasticity in the stomach and its non-glandular and glandular regions in five non-diabetic and five Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats (type 2 diabetic model). The stomachs were distended in vitro using a pressure range from 0 to 8 cm H 2O. Gastric compliance curves, the surface principal radii of curvature, the surface tension, and circumferential and longitudinal deformation–pressure curves were calculated based on 3D non-diabetic and the diabetic stomach models. Diabetes lowered the gastric compliance in the non-glandular stomach and the whole stomach ( P < 0.02). The radii of curvature and tension distribution were non-homogeneous in both the diabetic and the non-diabetic stomach due to the complex geometry. Furthermore, diabetes increased the circumferential stiffness in the non-glandular part ( P < 0.001). The diabetic stomach exhibited lower material compliance not only in the proximal stomach but also in the entire stomach. The biomechanical properties differed between regions and in different directions in both the non-diabetic and the diabetic stomach. The changes due to diabetes may contribute to the delayed gastric emptying and the symptoms in diabetic patients.