Effects of somatostatin deficiency on cell distribution within the Langerhans islets.
Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin (SLI) in the pancreas and the gastrointestinal tissue of rats were measured following a high (300 mg/kg) or low (150 mg/kg) dose of cysteamine, given intermittently for 14 days. In addition, the effect of prolonged cysteamine-induced depletion of pancreatic SLI upon the cell distribution within the Langerhans islets was compared with that of chronic insulin-deficient rats produced by streptozotocin. The high or low dose of cysteamine reduced pancreatic SLI to 8.3% and gastrointestinal SLI to 5.6% of control levels without duodenal ulcer. The high dose of cysteamine also reduced pancreatic insulin to 37% of controls without hyperglycemia. No change in the glucagon concentration was observed. In SLI-deficient rats, distribution of A and B cells was similar to that of controls, even though D cells were rarely seen. In insulin-deficient rats, however, the number of A and D cells per islet area increased with a concomitant decrease in B cells. Intermittent administration of a low dose of cysteamine, thus, appears to be useful to produce a chronic SLI-deficient rat. However, a high dose of cysteamine is not a specific depletor of pancreatic SLI. Although insulin may be important to maintain normal cell distribution within the islets, pancreatic SLI may not have such a role.
Fujita
Y
Y
Amemiya
H
H
Abe
Y
Y
Takada
I
I
Ishii
K
K
Yajima
Y
Y
Yamamoto
N
N
Miyazawa
H
H
Okabe
H
H
D000818:Animals; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D003543:Cysteamine; D005934:Glucagon