title: Histomorphology and ultrastructure of pancreatic islet tissue during in vivo maturation of rat pancreas.
abstract: In this study, we have investigated the structural and ultrastructural features of pancreatic islet tissue during rat postnatal development. For this purpose, we used neonatal (1-2 days old), young (21 days old) and adult (3-4 months old) rats. From a functional point of view, neonatal islet tissue displayed a relatively poor insulin secretory response to glucose stimulation in comparison with the adult ones. Histological analysis showed that neonatal islet cells display a less organized morphology in comparison with the young and adult ones, characterized by a less defined form and the presence of ductal structures within or nearby the islet. Regarding the islet cytoarchitecture, no differences were observed among all animal groups studied. B-cells were always typically detected within the islet core while A-cells occupied the islet periphery area. No marked differences were found during postnatal animal development regarding the ultrastructural aspect of the endocrine cells and their secretory granules. Nevertheless, quantitative analysis showed a lower B-cell/non-B-cell ratio, a higher association with ducts and an increased immunoreaction for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in neonatal islets as compared to young and adults. In conclusion, the acquisition of an adult pattern of insulin secretion may require an appropriate histoarchitecture and B-cell/non-B-cell proportion that may affect crucial regulatory events such as the paracrine and/or the cell-cell interaction or communication within the islet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, S.P., CEP: 13083-970 Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Prado de França
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Junia Carolina Rebelo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Daniel Andrade
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boschero
authors.forename: Carla Beatriz
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Collares-Buzato
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar