Biomaterial Database

Correlation between morphology and function in isolated islets of the Zucker rat. 1979

A Hayek, and W Woodside

Obesity in the Zucker rat is accompanied by hyperlipemia, hyperinsulinism, insulin resistance, pancreatic hyperplasia, and islet hypertrophy. This study correlates the morphologic heterogeneity of isolated pancreatic islets with secretion of insulin and glucagon in the perifusion system. Islet size was arbitrarily defined as large (greater than 0.45 mm) or small (smaller than 0.12 mm). Protein content and volume (V = 4/3pir3) were calculated for groups and individual islets, respectively. Islets from obese rats secreted more insulin in response to glucose and aminophylline than islets from lean rats (peak 7.8 +/- 2.4 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.37 microU/islet/min, P less than 0.005). Insulin release was related directly to islet size and protein content. Small islets from lean and obese animals produced less insulin per islet than large islets (P less than 0.005). In terms of islet volume, however, large islets were inefficient insulin releasers as compared to small islets (P less than 0.005). Stimulation with Br-cAMP released glucagon from islets of lean but not from large islets of obese animals (peak 11 +/- 3.3 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.3 pg/microgram protein per minute, P less than 0.05). Arginine produced the same effect on glucagon release (P less than 0.05) as stimulation with Br-cAMP. The observed increased insulin release rates and the blunted glucagon response are related to islet size in the pancreas of the Zucker rat.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D007515	Islets of Langerhans	Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN.	Islands of Langerhans,Islet Cells,Nesidioblasts,Pancreas, Endocrine,Pancreatic Islets,Cell, Islet,Cells, Islet,Endocrine Pancreas,Islet Cell,Islet, Pancreatic,Islets, Pancreatic,Langerhans Islands,Langerhans Islets,Nesidioblast,Pancreatic Islet
D009765	Obesity	A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D005934	Glucagon	A 29-amino acid pancreatic peptide derived from proglucagon which is also the precursor of intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Glucagon is secreted by PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS and plays an important role in regulation of BLOOD GLUCOSE concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes. (From Gilman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed, p1511)	Glucagon (1-29),Glukagon,HG-Factor,Hyperglycemic-Glycogenolytic Factor,Proglucagon (33-61),HG Factor,Hyperglycemic Glycogenolytic Factor
D005947	Glucose	A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement.	Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D006720	Homozygote	An individual in which both alleles at a given locus are identical.	Homozygotes
D000078790	Insulin Secretion	Production and release of insulin from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS that primarily occurs in response to elevated BLOOD GLUCOSE levels.	Secretion, Insulin
D000628	Aminophylline	A drug combination that contains THEOPHYLLINE and ethylenediamine. It is more soluble in water than theophylline but has similar pharmacologic actions. It's most common use is in bronchial asthma, but it has been investigated for several other applications.	Afonilum,Aminodur,Aminophyllin,Aminophylline DF,Cardophyllin,Carine,Clonofilin,Corophyllin,Diaphyllin,Drafilyn,Duraphyllin,Eufilina,Eufilina Venosa,Euphyllin,Euphyllin Retard,Euphylline,Godafilin,Mini-Lix,Mundiphyllin,Mundiphyllin Retard,Novophyllin,Phyllocontin,Phyllotemp,Somophyllin,Tari-Dog,Theophyllamin Jenapharm,Theophyllamine,Theophyllin EDA-ratiopharm,Theophylline Ethylenediamine,Truphylline,Ethylenediamine, Theophylline,Theophyllin EDA ratiopharm,Theophyllin EDAratiopharm
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001120	Arginine	An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form.	Arginine Hydrochloride,Arginine, L-Isomer,DL-Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,L-Arginine,Arginine, L Isomer,DL Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,Hydrochloride, Arginine,L Arginine,L-Isomer Arginine,Monohydrate DL-Arginine Acetate