No abstract

A morphological analysis of the endocrine pancreas in the normoglycemic sand rat (Psammomys obesus) has been carried out and the immunoreactivity for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) studied. The islets of both parts of the pancreas (pancreatic head and tail) investigated were of the 'mantle' type: centrally located B-cells and A-, D- and PP-cells at the periphery. In the 'glucagon islets' (tail of pancreas) predominated the A-cells, while the PP-cells were more abundant in the "PP-islets' (head of the pancreas).

Treatment with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A frequently gives rise to functional alteration of the islets of Langerhans which may result in diabetes. Light microscopy, immunocytochemical, and electron microscopy investigations demonstrate degranulation, vacuolization, and destruction of endocrine pancreatic cells in treated animals. Similar changes, but of a milder degree, are observed in the A-cells. The morphological alterations described are likely to be the result of inhibition of synthesis and secretion in B-cells.

Treatment with the immunosuppressive agent Cyclosporin A frequently gives rise to alteration of function in the Langerhans islet which may result in diabetes. Light microscopy, immunocytochemical, and electron microscopic investigations demonstrate degranulation and vacuolization of B endocrine pancreatic cells in treated animals. Similar changes, but to a milder degree, are observed in the A-cells. The morphological alterations described are likely to result from an inhibition of the synthesis and secretion of B-cells.

No abstract

No abstract