Intercalated Duct Cells in the Chicken Pancreatic Islet with Special Reference to the Alloxan Administration.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The intercalated duct cells were observed in the A and B islets of the chicken pancreas. These cells adhered with each other by intercellular junctional complexes at the apical side. They had many microvilli projecting into the lumen. Abluminally, they displayed extended slender cytoplasmic processes between islet endocrine cells. Administration of alloxan resulted to denser cytoplasm and a more prominent thickening of cytoplasmic processes of the intercalated duct cells, although the blood glucose levels did not show appreciable changes by the treatment. The intercalated duct epithelial cells appeared clearly as stellate cells. The lysosomes increased in size and number with passage of time after alloxan administration. The present findings may suggest that intercalated ducts are not only anatomically important as a structure passing through the islet but also play physiologically by protecting the islet endocrine cells.-KEY WORDS: alloxan, chicken, intercalated duct, pancreatic islet, stellate cell.

Islet-derived stellate-like cells as a novel source for islet neogenesis in chicks

“…The intercalated duct epithelial cells present in the A and B islets of the chick pancreas have been claimed as stellate cells (Mutoh et al, 1999). Here we show for the first time that the stellate-like cells derived from chick pancreatic islets can be differentiated into ILC.…”

“…Earlier work on chick pancreas (Mutoh et al, 1997(Mutoh et al, , 1998(Mutoh et al, , 1999 clearly indicated presence of the stellate cells in chick A and B islets as a part of intercalated duct cells, probably excluding the possibility of epithelial mesenchymal transition, which needs to be verified.…”

“…Electron microscopic studies of these cells have suggested their role in protecting islets against alloxan insults (Mutoh et al, 1997(Mutoh et al, , 1998 and their importance in protecting the islet endocrine cells against the diabetogenic insults in chicken. A possible role in phagocytosis, support, contraction, stem cell function, and paracrine regulation of hormone secretion has also been suggested (Mutoh et al, 1999). Previously, we reported a simple technique to isolate functional B islets from chick pancreata with retention of their insulin secretory activity in response to glucose challenge .…”

Histological, Histochemical and Ultrastructure Studies on the Ostrich Pancreas (Struthio camelus)

“…This finding concord with Stornelli et al, (2006) in ostrich and Nagasao et al, (2003) in chicken. On contrast Mutoh et al, (1999) in fowl pancreatic intercalated duct gave a changeable description of the duct as it lined by quite inconspicuous cells that seemed to appear as stellate cells. Mobini (2013) in pigeon mentioned that, the epithelium of the duct system varied from simple squamous epithelium in the intercalated duct, to tall columnar epithelium in the main excretory duct.…”

Expression of Nestin and IGF‐1 in Rat Pancreas after Streptozotocin Administration

“…Avian ICDs persist in the pancreatic islets and their cyotoplasmic processes extend and surround some endocrine cells. It has been proposed that avian ICD cells are involved in the regulation of metabolism and protection from toxic substances against the endocrine cells (Mutoh et al., 1997, 1998, 1999a–c). In mammals, ICD cells and pancreatic islet cells are closely related and both cells express S‐100 protein (Nagasao et al., 2002).…”