title: Variations in rodent models of type 1 diabetes: islet morphology.
abstract: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to lost or damaged islet insulin-producing β -cells. Rodent models of T1D result in hyperglycemia, but with different forms of islet deterioration. This study focused on 1 toxin-induced and 2 autoimmune rodent models of T1D: BioBreeding Diabetes Resistant rats, nonobese diabetic mice, and Dark Agouti rats treated with streptozotocin. Immunochemistry was used to evaluate the insulin levels in the β -cells, cell composition, and insulitis. T1D caused complete or significant loss of β -cells in all animal models, while increasing numbers of α -cells. Lymphocytic infiltration was noted in and around islets early in the progression of autoimmune diabetes. The loss of lymphocytic infiltration coincided with the absence of β -cells. In all models, the remaining α - and δ -cells regrouped by relocating to the islet center. The resulting islets were smaller in size and irregularly shaped. Insulin injections subsequent to induction of toxin-induced diabetes significantly preserved β -cells and islet morphology. Diabetes in animal models is anatomically heterogeneous and involves important changes in numbers and location of the remaining α - and δ -cells. Comparisons with human pancreatic sections from healthy and diabetic donors showed similar morphological changes to the diabetic BBDR rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
authors.forename: Lesya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novikova
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Smirnova
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.forename: Abby L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stehno-Bittel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose