Differential proliferation of somatostatin and glucagon cells in rat pancreatic islets submitted to various stimuli. 1995

P Pons, and A Aoki
Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.

The populations of endocrine cells in pancreatic islets are subjected to striking fluctuations in their size when subjected to sustained stimulation and/or inhibition of their secretory activity. The stimulation of a specific endocrine secretion is followed by proliferation of its producing cell, a situation that is reversed after interruption or inhibition of the stimulus. Morphometric and cytological modifications of somatostatin and glucagon producing cells (D and A cells respectively) in the islets of Langerhans have been studied by electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and morphometry in pancreas of rats submitted to the following experimental conditions: 1) Adrenalectomized (ADX), 2) ADX treated with hydrocortisone, 3) Diabetic and 4) Cysteamine (CSH) treated rats. In addition to ultrastructural changes, the populations of A and D cells were analyzed morphometrically applying a computerized system for light microscopy of paraffin sections immunostained with peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. Glucagon cell population displayed striking alterations in fine structural features and in the volume density in the different experimental conditions examined. By contrast, the cytological organization and the size of somatostatin cell population were little or not affected except in the diabetic rats where the massive degeneration of beta cells grossly distorted the structure of the islets. These observations led to the conclusion that the population of D cells constitutes a stable of endocrine system, at variance to the profound modifications occurring in A cells when they are submitted to various experimental conditions that stimulate or inhibit their secretory activity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
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
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D002455 Cell Division The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION. M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D003543 Cysteamine A mercaptoethylamine compound that is endogenously derived from the COENZYME A degradative pathway. The fact that cysteamine is readily transported into LYSOSOMES where it reacts with CYSTINE to form cysteine-cysteamine disulfide and CYSTEINE has led to its use in CYSTINE DEPLETING AGENTS for the treatment of CYSTINOSIS. Cysteinamine,Mercaptamine,2-Aminoethanethiol,Becaptan,Cystagon,Cysteamine Bitartrate,Cysteamine Dihydrochloride,Cysteamine Hydrobromide,Cysteamine Hydrochloride,Cysteamine Maleate (1:1),Cysteamine Tartrate,Cysteamine Tartrate (1:1),Cysteamine Tosylate,Cysteamine, 35S-Labeled,Mercamine,Mercaptoethylamine,beta-Mercaptoethylamine,2 Aminoethanethiol,35S-Labeled Cysteamine,Bitartrate, Cysteamine,Cysteamine, 35S Labeled,Dihydrochloride, Cysteamine,Hydrobromide, Cysteamine,Hydrochloride, Cysteamine,Tartrate, Cysteamine,Tosylate, Cysteamine,beta Mercaptoethylamine
D003921 Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental Diabetes mellitus induced experimentally by administration of various diabetogenic agents or by PANCREATECTOMY. Alloxan Diabetes,Streptozocin Diabetes,Streptozotocin Diabetes,Experimental Diabetes Mellitus,Diabete, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Alloxan,Diabetes, Streptozocin,Diabetes, Streptozotocin,Streptozocin Diabete
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
D006854 Hydrocortisone The main glucocorticoid secreted by the ADRENAL CORTEX. Its synthetic counterpart is used, either as an injection or topically, in the treatment of inflammation, allergy, collagen diseases, asthma, adrenocortical deficiency, shock, and some neoplastic conditions. Cortef,Cortisol,Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 11,17,21-trihydroxy-, (11beta)-,11-Epicortisol,Cortifair,Cortril,Epicortisol,Hydrocortisone, (11 alpha)-Isomer,Hydrocortisone, (9 beta,10 alpha,11 alpha)-Isomer,11 Epicortisol
D000315 Adrenalectomy Excision of one or both adrenal glands. (From Dorland, 28th ed) Adrenalectomies

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