Studies on islet cell regeneration, hyperplasia and intrainsular cellular interrelations in long lasting streptozotocin diabetes in rats

Abstract

Diabetes was induced in rats with various single i.v. doses of streptozotocin. The rats were killed 4-10 months thereafter. Marked hyperglycaemia, ketonaemia and a rise of plasma free fatty acids resulted. The weight increase was markedly reduced. There was a clear reciprocal correlation between the injected dose of the diabetogenic agent and plasma IRI. The same was true for the B-cell counts. There was a marked B-cell hypertrophy, whereas we found only slight indication for B-cell regeneration. In one animal a functioning B-cell adenoma developed and almost all the parameters tested were normalized. In the diabetic animals the A2-cells were predominant in the islets of Langerhans and their mean nuclear diameters were increased. In the duodenal mucosa no increase in the number of glucagonocytes was found. We interpret this activity of the glucagonocytes as a consequence of permanent and long-lasting hyperglycaemia. © 1970 Springer-Verlag.