The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the recruitment of foreign body giant cells elicited by subcutaneously implanted polyvinyl sponges. Our result showed that, in diabetic rats, the recruitment of macrophages and foreign body giant cells that occurred as a response to the implants, was impaired. These cells were smaller and did not migrate as deeply into the implant as those seen in normal rats. Futhermore, ultrastructurally, giant cells in diabetic rats showed poor development of cytoplasmic organelles and basal membranes. These data indicate that there is a deficiency in the ability of diabetic rats to mount a foreign body giant cell response to an implanted sponge, characterized by a deficiency in the recruitment of precursor cells that are capable of either full development and spreading or migration into the implanted sponge.
