Temporal changes in pancreatic islet composition in c57bl/6j-db/db (diabetes) mice (original) (raw)

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Temporal changes in non-B cell populations were determined during the period of B cell hyperplasia in diabetes-resistant C57BL/6J mice. Pancreases from normal and db/db mice between 3 and 20 weeks of age were stained immunocytochemically for glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and changes in A, D and PP cell volume densities quantified by image analysis. Further, islet volumes, D cell volumes and actual D cell numbers per islet were determined by analysis of serial sections through entire islets. The volume of db/db islets was three and ten-fold elevated above normal by 8 and 20 weeks, respectively, due mainly to B cell hyperplasia. D cell volume density exhibited a transient increase during the initial phase of B cell hyperplasia, but then showed a gradual reduction; the average number and absolute volume of D cells per islet was comparable in db/db and normal islets from older mice. In contrast, PP cell volume density remained stable throughout, suggesting that this cell type kept pace with B cell hyperplasia. A cells showed a reduced volume density throughout and were distinguished from other islet cells which all responded positively to a degree, albeit non-coordinately, to the mitogenic stimulus exerted by db gene expression. The finding that A cells shared with certain neuroectodermally-derived cell types a differentially high concentration of _sn_-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase further underscored the uniqueness of the A cell from other cell types.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. The Jackson Laboratory Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
   D. A. Gapp PhD, E. H. Leiter, D. L. Coleman & R. W. Schwizer
2. Department of Biology, Hamilton College, 13323, Clinton, NY, USA
   D. A. Gapp PhD

Authors

1. D. A. Gapp PhD
2. E. H. Leiter
3. D. L. Coleman
4. R. W. Schwizer

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Gapp, D.A., Leiter, E.H., Coleman, D.L. et al. Temporal changes in pancreatic islet composition in c57bl/6j-db/db (diabetes) mice.Diabetologia 25, 439–443 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282525

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• Received: 03 November 1982
• Revised: 15 June 1983
• Issue date: November 1983
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282525

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