title: Initial increase and subsequent loss of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons of mouse islets transplanted to the kidney.
abstract: Collagenase-isolated pancreatic islets from C57BL/6J mice were cultured overnight and transplanted under the kidney capsule of non-diabetic syngeneic hosts. Cryostat sections of grafts and fresh islets were stained for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity (VIP-LI). Immediately after isolation, as well as 2-5 days after transplantation, VIP-LI- and AChE-positive nerve cell bodies were clearly seen in the periphery of the islets. Grafts 3-5 days old exhibited a transient and marked increase in VIP-LI nerve cell bodies and fibres. Seven days after transplantation VIP-LI nerve structures began to decrease in number and after 26-52 weeks they were no longer detectable. In contrast, AChE-positive nerve cell bodies and fibers, which showed a relatively constant pattern of distribution, were observed throughout the entire observation period. Restaining experiments demonstrated the coexistence of VIP-LI and AChE activity in the neurons. It is concluded that the grafts were extensively equipped with an intrinsic VIP-ergic and AChE-positive innervation. The initial, transient enhancement of VIP-LI expression probably reflects an adaptation of the neuro-insular complex to the preganglionic denervation, or to the ectopic environment, or both.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persson-Sjögren
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forsgren
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rooth
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Täljedal
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D007668:Kidney; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase