Histopathology of the endocrine pancreas of a fresh-water fish, Clarias Batrachus L. VII. Effects of hydrocortisone and thyroxine administration.
Hydrocortisone treatment caused a hyperglycaemic state in Clarias batrachus within an hour. The blood glucose values remained significantly increased for 6 days. An initial increase in liver glycogen was followed by a decrease below the normal value. The muscle and brain glycogen levels remained unaffected. A mild degranulation of B cells was seen in the early hours and a conspicuous vacuolation and necrosis of both A and B cells appeared 72-96 h after treatment. Administration of thyroxine resulted in hyperglycaemia within 15 h but a distinct hypoglycaemic condition was seen 4 days after the treatment. Considerable drain in the liver glycogen deposits was noticed between 24 and 72 h while the muscle glycogen showed an increase. The brain glycogen did not change noticeably. Islets of the fishes autopsied between 72 and 96 h contained severely damaged B cells. The A cells remained unaffected. It is suggested that, in addition to several other hormones, hydrocortisone and thyroxine play an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar homoeostasis in C. batrachus.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D006003:Glycogen; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone