Glucose dependent alterations of mitochondrial ultrastructure and enzyme content in mouse pancreatic islets maintained in tissue culture: a morphometrical and biochemical study.
Isolated islets of Langerhans from mice were maintained in tissue culture for one week at either a high (28 mM) or a low (3.3 mM) extracellular glucose concentration. Electron microscopic morphometry by means of stereological methods revealed a much greater volume of mitochondria in islet cells cultured at low glucose than in those cultured at high glucose. The former islets also showed a higher activity of the mitochondrial marker enzyme, L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehyrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.35). These results indicate a true mitochondrial hypertrophy at the low glucose concentration. Although it is known from previous studies that the islet cell  metabolism is diminished after low-glucose culture, the present observations of an increased mitochondrial volume probably do not reflect a degenerative process, but rather adaptive changes towards oxidation of energy yielding substrates other than glucose.
D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D003065:Coenzyme A; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005947:Glucose / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D005947:Glucose; D003065:Coenzyme A