Remodeling of the innervation of pancreatic islets accompanies insulitis preceding onset of diabetes in the NOD mouse.
The innervation of the islets of Langerhans may constitute a first target for the autoimmunity that develops in type 1 diabetes. Here, we report the occurrence of a decrease in general innervation within the islets in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, and the establishment of strands of Schwann cells, as detected via p75 and S-100 immunoreactivity (IR), and varicose nerve fibers expressing tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) in association with the immune cells. The findings suggest that there are marked attempts for neurotrophins to promote nerve ingrowth and survival for islet tissue and that remodeling of innervation occurs in the continuation of the insulitis process preceding the onset of type 1 diabetes.
Persson-Sjögren
Solveig
S
Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Section for Histology and Cell Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Solveig.Persson-Sjogren@histocel.umu.se
Holmberg
Dan
D
Forsgren
Sture
S
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000294:innervation*; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
D016761:Oncogene Proteins v-fos; D009418:S100 Proteins; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C496976:Uchl1 protein, mouse