title: Histopathology and ex vivo insulin secretion of pancreatic islets in gestational diabetes: A case report.
abstract: Gestational diabetes (GD) results from insufficient endogenous insulin supply. No information is available on features of islet cells in human GD. Herein, we describe several properties of islets from a woman with GD. Immunohistochemical stainings and EM analyses were performed on pancreatic samples. Islet isolation was achieved by enzymatic dissociation and density gradient centrifugation. Ex vivo insulin secretion was studied in response to fuel secretagogues. Control islets were obtained from matched non-pregnant, non-diabetic women. Total insulin positive area was lower in GD, mainly due to the presence of smaller islets. β-cell apoptosis and the presence of Ki67 positive islet cells were similar in GD and controls, whereas the amount of insulin positive cells in or close to the ducts was decreased in GD. Ex vivo insulin secretion did not differ between GD and non-pregnant, non-diabetic islets. These findings suggest that in this case of human GD there might mainly be a defect of β-cell amount, not due to increased apoptosis, but possibly to insufficient regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.forename: Lorella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marselli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lencioni
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bugliani
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Masiello
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Boggi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filipponi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dotta
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Cianni
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D001120:Arginine; D005947:Glucose; D005905:Glyburide