Diabetes, Vol 29, Issue 5 341-347, Copyright © 1980 by American Diabetes Association
Effects of intraportal islet transplantation on the transplanted tissue and the recipient pancreas. I. Functional studies
ER Trimble, C Karakash, F Malaisse-Lagae, I Vassutine, L Orci and AE Renold
It is well known that, in diabetes, there is an abnormality of both
pancreatic beta and alpha cell secretion. Since islet transplantation can
markedly improve the diabetic state in streptozotocin-treated rats, we
investigated the effects of intraportal transplantation on the beta and
alpha cell secretion of the transplanted tissue. In addition we examined
the effects of transplantation on the hormone content of both the
transplanted tissue and the endogenous pancreas. Animals were examined 6
and 20 wk after transplantation. Isolated perfusions of the perfusions of
the islet-containing livers showed that both glucagon and insulin secretion
could be promptly stimulated by arginine. The hormone content of the livers
at death revealed that, while the insulin content of transplanted tissue
was well maintained, there was a marked reduction in glucagon content. An
increase in pancreatic glucagon content was found in rats with untreated
diabetes of five months' duration; this was partially or fully prevented by
islet transplantation. There was also a moderate increase in insulin
content of the pancreases of animals that received islet transplants.