title: The histomorphology of pancreatic islets in the bandicoot, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray).
abstract: Histomorphology of pancreatic islets are first time reported in the Bandicoot, Bandicota bengalensis. Histological observations are made with conventional staining techniques on the pancreatic islets of Bandicota bengalensis. The endocrine tissues present all over the pancreatic mass through large number of islets are confined to spleenic region and exhibited various shaped from round, oval, oblong to irregular. Three main types of cells viz., A-1, A-2 and B cells are observed. The commonly used silver techniques failed in differentiation of A-1 and A-2 cells. However, A-1 cells were stained with toluidine blue, while A-2 cells with phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin. Beta cells are more in number and situated in the centre of the islet surrounded by peripheral alpha cells. Presence of a large number of B cells in an islet indicates the vital role in insulin in the blood sugar homeostasis of the bandicoot.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*