title: Quantitative ultrastructural changes induced by sucrose administration in the pancreatic B cells of normal hamsters.
abstract: We have previously reported that young male Syrian hamsters receiving a sucrose-rich diet presented increased B-cell replication rate and size. The aim of the present study was to analyze, under the same experimental conditions, the ultrastructural changes in B cells. For this purpose, young male Syrian hamsters were fed with a commercial diet and 10% sucrose in their drinking water (S group) while the control group (C) received the same diet and tap water, for 5 weeks. Samples of the pancreas removed after that period were processed for the immunohistochemical identification of B cells as well as for measuring several ultrastructural parameters. S hamsters showed higher serum insulin levels, while similar serum glucose values were obtained in animals from both groups. The B cells from S group exhibited lesser number of dense secretory granules at expenses of an increase of the pale ones, increased number of both exocytosis profiles and fusion-granule images, as well as enlargement of the intercellular space and mitochondrial area. Marked expansions of this space, limited by junctional complexes, were observed between adjacent B cells. These results would indicate that sucrose administration to normal hamsters not only increases the pancreatic B-cell mass but also induces measurable subcellular changes in the individual B-cell characteristic of an enhanced secretory activity. The present model would represent a useful tool for testing strategies in preventing the damage or promoting the recovery of the pancreatic B cells.
authors.affiliation: CENEXA-Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET, WHO-Collaborating Center), La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camihort
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Del Zotto
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gómez Dumm
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gagliardino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D002452:Cell Count; D006224:Cricetinae; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D007328:Insulin