Histochemical Studies on Steroid Diabetes of Guinea Pigs With Special Reference to Langerhans Islets of Pancreas

Abstract

The islets of Langerhans in guinea pigs with steroid-induced diabetes (by injecting 5mg of cortisol twice daily) were studied histologically and histochemically at various time intervals. The islets in those animals marked hypertrophy with hyperplasia. Hydropic degeneration and glycogen infiltration were also observed in the beta cells in various degrees. The alpha cells of the animals with prolonged severe diabetes also showed degranulation and glycogen infiltration, which had not yet been reported and represented unique findings in steroid-induced diabetes. Histochemical studies showed a definite increase of glucose-6phosphatase activity after 3 days of cortisol treatment. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactic dehydrogenase increased in both alpha and beta cells. In the early stage of diabetes acid phosphatase activity was either normal or slightly increased, but later decreased in both alpha and beta cells. These altered enzymatic activities returned to normal one week after cessation of steroid treatment. Several other enzymes examined histochemically showed no significant changes. The histochemical findings in the alpha and beta cells in this experiment suggest a new interpretation of the functional correlation between the two types of cells. The significance of these enzymes and their possible role in the functional activity of the islet cells are discussed.