ABSTRACT:We evaluated the influence of experimental diabetes on the amylase release in exocrine pancreatic cells. Following a single alloxan injection, male rabbits were divided into control and four experimental groups according to the disease duration. Respectively a�er 21, 42, 90, and 180 days intervals, the final levels of glucose and amylase in the sera were determined spectrophotometrically by the use of an enzymatic method. The mean serum glucose level in healthy controls was 6.4 mmol/l. It reached its top value of 32.0 mmol/l a�er 42 days of diabetes, and decreased to 23.12 mmol/l on day 180. The mean serum amylase activity was 124 U/l in healthy controls, 57 U/l on day 21, 138 on day 42, 84 U/l on day 90, and 56 U/l a�er 180 days of diabetes. The initial drop of the amylase activity may be interpreted as a result of decreased stimulating insulin effect on exocrine pancreatic cells, whereas the transient increase in activity on day 90 seems to be related to the increased destruction processes of the pancreatic tissue.
A middle-aged woman presented with a history of constipation, easy fatigue, depressive mood, lassitude, polydipsia, and polyuria. The patient posed a challenging diagnostic dilemma due to the presence of persistent severe hypercalcemia and relative lack of clinically manifested symptoms. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic examinations confirmed the diagnosis of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia as a result of C562Y calcium-sensing receptor mutation, and a coexisting parathyroid adenoma. After adenectomy, the patient's clinical situation improved markedly, and a modest equilibrium hypercalcemia persisted. This case presents an unusual combination of two relatively common endocrine disorders.
The aim of this study was to establish if the changes in the ultrastructure of the exocrine part of the pancreas are correlated with changes in serum glucose, cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions during the progression of diabetes in rabbits. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male New Zealand rabbits by a single injection of alloxan into the auricular vein. On the day 7th the glucose level in the whole blood was measured and this day was designated as the first day of diabetes. Rabbits were divided into 5 groups: untreated control, 21-day diabetes, 42-day diabetes, 90-day diabetes and 180-day diabetes. The cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels were examined in the serum. The total pancreatic lipase activity was measured spectrophotometrically in the pancreatic homogenate. Histological specimens were examined under an electron microscopy. The glucose level increased significantly in all of the alloxan exposed animals. The significant elevation of cholesterol level was observed on day 21 and 180. The HDL level was increased (P<0.05) only on the day 21st. The LDL level and the total activity of pancreatic lysosomal lipase increased significantly on day 21, 42 and 90. Further dilation of granular endoplasmic reticular ducts and decrease in the number of zymogen granules were observed amongst exocrine cells. Fragmented mitochondrial and translucent matrix were also seen. Intensification of the pancreatic fibrosis was found on day 90. Microvascular changes were reported in exocrine cells after 180 days. Their nuclei were smaller with large bulges on the nuclear membrane, and the number of heterogeneous electron granules of zymogen further declined. We concluded that the intensification of ultrastructural changes of the exocrine part of the pancreas correlated with the changes of the pancreatic lipase activity, and glucose and lipoprotein levels.
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