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Perinatal development of the pancreatic islet microvasculature in rats
Author(s) -
Johansson Magnus,
Andersson Arne,
Carlsson PerOla,
Jansson Leif
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00520.x
Subject(s) - islet , endocrinology , medicine , endocrine system , enteroendocrine cell , pancreas , biology , fetus , beta cell , hormone , andrology , pregnancy , insulin , genetics
The aim of the present study was to investigate possible changes in the islet microvasculature during the period of pronounced β‐cell growth seen perinatally in rats. We studied islet endothelial and β‐cell proliferation, as well as islet vascular density, in rats during this period. There was a progressive increase in islet vascular density from day −1 to day 7 postpartum, with values similar to those in adult rats seen at the latter time point. 3 H‐thymidine‐labelled islet endothelial cells were extremely rare in adult rats, whereas such cells were much more frequent perinatally. The β‐cell labelling index was higher in all perinatal animals than in adult rats, with peak values seen on day 2. The proliferating endocrine cells were located very close to blood vessels at day 2 after birth. In conclusion, the pronounced growth of islet endocrine cells seen during the first week after birth coincides and co‐localizes with an even more pronounced increase in islet endothelial cell proliferation, which results in a marked increase in intra‐islet vascular density. This perinatal increase in islet blood vessel density may facilitate glucose sensing and islet hormonal delivery to the systemic circulation.