The cytological composition of the foetal endocrine pancreas in normal and pathological conditions

Abstract

The islets of Langerhans of the neonatal pancreas are composed of B cells and non-B cells. The non-B cells are a heterogeneous group and the composition appears to vary according to the staining method used. Silver impregnation methods sometimes impregnate a small number of B cells. No complete identity exists between argyrophilic cells (Hellerström-Hellman modifications of the Davenport technique) and D cells. In babies from mothers with reduced carbohydrate tolerance the islets contain an increased proportion of B cells and Ag+ cells. Such an increase is not found in babies with erythroblastosis or alpha-thalassaemia. An active hypothalamohypophyseal system seems to be obligatory for complete maturation of the foetal islet tissue. In babies of diabetic mothers hyperplasia of the B cell appears only when a complete hypothalamo-hypophyseal system is present. © 1971 Springer-Verlag.