Hydropic Changes in Pancreatic Ductules and Islets in Alloxan Diabetes in the Rabbit.

Abstract

Moderate to extreme hydropic degeneration of the pancreatic ductules and islets was observed in rabbits rendered diabetic by alloxan when the diabetic state had persisted for several mos. Such changes have not hitherto been described in alloxan diabetes in the rabbit. The earliest appearance of these alterations was seen 45 days after the injn. of alloxan and hydropic changes were always present after 90 days providing that the avg. fasting blood sugar level during the expt. had been 303 mg. % or higher. The hydropic state of the ductules and islets persisted without histologic evidence of any further change, in association with more or less severe diabetes lasting for periods up to 1 yr. The a cells of the islets remained histologically normal but appeared to be increased in number. Preliminary observations demonstrated that the hydropic degeneration of both ductules and islets is reversible by adequate treatment of the diabetic state with insulin. The reversed islet cells appeared to be unduly numerous, suggesting proliferation. They were made up in part of indifferent non-granular cells and in part of cells exhibiting varying degrees of granularity of the cytoplasm of [beta] type. Those with a full complement of granular cytoplasm were indistinguishable in appearance from the [beta] cells of the islets of Langerhans in the normal rabbit.