Postnatally disturbed pancreatic islet cell distribution in human islet amyloid polypeptide transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)/amylin is produced by the pancreatic islet beta-cells, which also produce insulin. To study potential functions of IAPP, we have generated transgenic mice overexpressing human IAPP (hIAPP) in the beta-cells. These mice show a diabetic phenotype when challenged with an oral glucose load. In this study, we examined the islet cytoarchitecture in the hIAPP mice by examining islet cell distribution in the neonatal period, as well as 1, 3 and 6 months after birth.


RESULTS
Neonatal transgenic mice exhibited normal islet cell distribution with beta-cells constituting the central islet portion, whereas glucagon and somatostatin-producing cells constituted the peripheral zone. In contrast, in hIAPP transgenic mice at the age of 1 month, the glucagon-immunoreactive (IR) cells were dispersed throughout the islets. Furthermore, at the age of 3 and 6 months, the islet organisation was similarly severely disturbed as at 1 month. Expression of both endogenous mouse IAPP and transgenic hIAPP was clearly higher in 6-month-old mice as compared to newborns, as revealed by mRNA in situ hybridisation.


CONCLUSIONS
Mice transgenic for hIAPP have islets with disrupted islet cytoarchitecture in the postnatal period, particularly affecting the distribution of glucagon-IR cells. This islet cellular phenotype of hIAPP transgenic mice is similar to that of other mouse models of experimental diabetes and might contribute to the impaired glucose homeostasis.
Wong
H Y
HY
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ahrén
B
B
Lips
C J M
CJ
Höppener
J W M
JW
Sundler
F
F
D000682:Amyloid / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005934:Glucagon / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000682:Amyloid; D007328:Insulin; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005934:Glucagon