Publication: Histopathological changes in the islets of Langerhans in hamsters infected with the 139H strain of scrapie: semi-thin section study
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Date
1996
Authors
Ye, X. ; Carp, R.I.
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Using histopathological analysis of semi-thin
sections stained with toluidine blue, we observed
profound pathological changes in the islets of
Langerhans of hamsters infected with the scrapie agent
(strain 139H). These included cytoplasmic vesicles,
nuclear swelling, and vacuolization in the islet cells.
Two types of vacuolization were seen. "Localized
vacuolization" (LV) has a distinct edge and is restricted
or confined within the cell. "Diffuse vacuolization" (DV)
has no distinct edge and is scattered within tissues either
inside or outside of cells. DV may span intracellular and
extracellular regions of the islet tissues. There were
abnormal structures which we temed blood vessel cores
(BVCs) in the islets of 139H-infected hamsters. BVC is
a hollow space filled up with blood cells. Immunocytochemical
staining for insulin antibody suggested that
BVC was surrounded by the B cells of the islet. In the
present study, we observed that many inflammatory cells
passed through the blood-tissue barriers using pathways
between cell-junction in the lumen of BVC. We also
observed many necklace-like hollow spaces between
islet cells. They are the pockets of extracellular space. A
novel concept of "the accordion effect" was described to
explain a function of the extracellular space. Under normal physiological conditions, as the synthesis of
insulin increase in B cells, the volume of the B cells will
increase while the volume of the extracellular space will
decrease. After a synchronized secretory response from
the stimulated B cells, the secretory product would move
from the intracellular space into the extracellular space,
the volume of the B cells would be decreased and the
volume of the extracellular space would be increased.
Most of the secretory product might be released into the
blood stream immediately, causing an insulin releasing
peak in the blood stream, whereas the rest would remain
in the enlarged extracellular space. As the cycle repeat,
the increasing volume of the B cells will squeeze the
remaining insulin into the blood stream gradually. Thus, the expandable extracellular space would serve as buffer
system and a reservoir to collect and store some
secretory products for future use. We refer to this
concept as "the accordion effect". The concept of "the
accordion effect" may also be true in other endocrine
organs such as pituitary gland and adrenal gland.
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