The effect of a fat-enriched diet on the pattern of distribution of pancreatic islet cells in the C57BL/6J mice.
The C57BL/6J mice are inbred strains and develop the metabolic syndrome of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension, when fed a high-fat diet. These features are similar to those observed in the human metabolic syndrome. This article examined the effect of fat-enriched (FE) diet on the pattern of distribution of insulin-, glucagon-, somatostatin-, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-positive cells in the pancreatic islets of C57BL/6J mice using immunohistochemical methods. Insulin-immunoreactive cells were observed in both the peripheral and central regions of the islets of Langerhans in both FE- and control diet-fed mice. The percentage distribution of insulin-positive cells was similar in FE (83.5 +/- 6.4) compared to control diet-fed C57BL/6J mice (83.8 +/- 6.5). Glucagon-containing cells were discerned in the periphery of pancreatic islets in both FE- and control diet-fed mice. The percentage distribution of glucagon was not statistically different in mice fed with FE (9.9 +/- 2.7) compared to control diet (11.3 +/- 4.9). Somatostatin-positive cells were seen in the outer part of the islet of Langerhans and constitute 12.1% (+/-6.3) and 10% (+/-5.5) of pancreatic islet cells in FE- and control diet-fed mice, respectively. PP-immunoreactive cells were observed in the peripheral region of the pancreatic islets of both FE- and control diet-fed mice. The percentage distribution of PP-positive cells was significantly (2.0 +/- 1.2) lower compared to control (5.1 +/- 2.4). In conclusion, the number of PP is significantly reduced in FE diet-fed mice and may play a role in the pathogenesis of diet-induced metabolic syndrome in C57BL/6J mice.
Adeghate
Ernest
E
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE. eadeghate@uaeu.ac.ae
Christopher Howarth
Frank
F
Rashed
Hameed
H
Saeed
Tariq
T
Gbewonyo
Amstrong
A
D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D004041:Dietary Fats