Rat pancreatic B-cells after chronic alcohol feeding. A morphometric and fine structural study

• Koko, V. ^[2] ; Todorovic, V ^[2] ; Nikolic, J.A. ^[3] ; Glisic, R. ^[4] ; Cakic, M. ^[1] ; Lackovic, V. ^[5] ; Petronijevic, L. ^[6] ; Stojkovic, M. ^[6] ; Varagic, J. ^[2] ; Janic, B. ^[7] ; Radovanovic, J. ^[4] ; Laban, A. ^[8]
  1. [1] Institute of Zoology

     Institute of Zoology

     Eslovaquia

     
  2. [2] Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade
  3. [3] INEP, Zemun
  4. [4] Institute for Biological Research, Faculty of Science, Kragujevac,
  5. [5] Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade
  6. [6] Institute of Digestive Diseases, University Clinical Center, Belgrade
  7. [7] Department of Gastroenterology, Institute for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade
  8. [8] Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

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• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 10, Nº. 2, 1995, págs. 325-337
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Quantitative analysis of the light microscopic and fine stmcture of rat islet B-cells was carried out in chronic alcoholism. Absolute pancreatic weight and volume were similar in groups C (control) and E (ethanol), but relative pancreatic weight in group E rat was decreased. The results for fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were similar in the two groups of animals. There was a significantly reduced total pancreatic islet volume in E rats. The total number of endocrine cells both per islet and per p2of islet was similar in the two groups of animals. The volume density and number of B-cells per islet and per p2of islet were not changed in ethanol-treated rats as compared with the control. On the other hand, diameter, surface area and volume of the Bcells and their nuclei were found to be statistically significantly decreased. Histological examination revealed that islet blood vessels were dilated in alcoholic rats. Over the 4-month period of ethanol intake a significant decrease in cell profile area, nuclear profile area and volume density of cytoplasmic granules and an increase in the profile area and volume density of endoplasmic reticulum occurred. The gross histological alteration seen in most B-cells of the ethanol-treated rats was irregularity of the nuclear envelope with deep invagination and with margination of heterochromatin and many empty granules or granules without clear electron dense crystals of insulin. The present results indicate some optical and structural abnormalities of B-cells in chronic alcoholism that may be related to cell dysfunction and may contribute, at least in part, to the endocrine pancreas functional disturbance.