Islet cell growth and the growth factors involved.
Throughout development, growth and aging, the mass of the pancreatic islets, in particular the insulin producing beta cell, increases to meet the functional demand and maintain euglycemia. Islet growth occurs by two pathways: (a) the expansion by replication of preexisting beta cells and (b) the formation of new islets (neogenesis) by proliferation and subsequent differentiation of pancreatic ductal epithelium. Some of the factors involved in these pathways of islet growth have been defined.
Bonner-Weir
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Joslin Diabetes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Smith
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