Summary
The prenatal and postnatal development of the two types of pancreatic A cells was examined in guinea-pigs. The A1 and A2 cells appeared at about the same time and were first seen in 26 days old fetuses, while B cells could not be recognized earlier than on the 39th day of intrauterine life. In all age groups examined with quantitative methods (65 days old fetuses to 9 months old guinea-pigs) the proportion of parenchyma in the pancreatic gland appeared higher in the cauda than in the caput. In the 3 months and 9 months old animals the proportions of the different types of islet cells were also higher in cauda than in caput. In each case the total weights of the A1, A2 and B cell fractions showed a similar growth rate relative to that of the body weights. The results are discussed in the light of previous observations in man and rat.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angervall, L., C. Hellerström, and B. Hellman: Development of the endocrine pancreas of rats as manifested by the appearance of argyrophylia and granulation. Path. et Microbiol. (Basel) 25, 389–399 (1962).
Bargmann, W.: Die Langerhansschen Inseln. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, herausgeg. von W. V. Möllendorff, Bd. VI/2. Berlin: Springer 1939.
Bencosme, S. A.: Studies on the methods of staining the islet cells of the pancreas. Arch. Path. 53, 87–97 (1952).
—, and D. C. Pease: Electron microscopy of the pancreatic islets. Endocrinology 63, 1–13 (1958).
Bensley, R. R.: Studies on the pancreas of the guinea-pig. Amer. J. Anat. 12, 297–388 (1911).
Björkman, N., C. Hellerström, B. Hellman, and B. Petersson: The cell types in the endocrine pancreas of the human fetus. Z. Zellforsch. 72, 425–445 (1966).
Caramia, F., B. L. Munger, and P. E. Lacy: The ultrastructural basis for the identification of cell types in the pancreatic islets. I. Guinea-pig. Z. Zellforsch. 67, 533–546 (1965).
Cavallero, C., and E. Solcia: Cytologic and cytochemical studies on the pancreatic islets. In: S. Brolin, B. Hellman and H. Knutson (eds.). The structure and metabolism of the pancreatic islets, p. 83–97. London: Pergamon Press 1964.
Chalkley, H. W.: Method for the quantitative morphologic analysis of tissues. J. nat. Cancer Inst. 4, 47–53 (1943).
Conklin, J. L.: Cytogenesis of the human fetal pancreas. Amer. J. Anat. 111, 181–193 (1962).
Falkmer, S., and R. Olsson: Ultrastructure of the pancreatic islet tissue of normal and alloxan-treated Cottus Scorpius. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 39, 32–46 (1962).
Ferner, H.: Das Inselsystem des Pankreas. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme 1952.
Gomori, G.: Aldehyde-fuchsin: A new stain for elastic tissue. Amer. J. clin. Path. 20, 665–666 (1950).
Hard, W. L.: The origin and differentiation of the alpha and beta cells in the pancreatic islets of the rat. Amer. J. Anat. 75, 369–403 (1944).
—: The differentiation of alpha and beta cells in the pancreatic islets of the guinea-pig. Anat. Rec. 94, 467 (1946).
Hellerström, C., and B. Hellman: Some aspects of silver impregnation of the islets of Langerhans in the rat. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 35, 518–532 (1960).
—, B. Petersson, and G. Alm: The two types of pancreatic A-cells and their relation to the glucagon secretion. In: S. Brolin, B. Hellman and H. Knutson (eds.), The structure and metabolism of the pancreatic islets, p. 117–130. London: Pergamon Press 1964.
Hellman, B.: The total volume of the pancreatic islet tissue at different ages of the rat. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 47, 35–50 (1959a).
—: The effect of ageing on the total volumes of the A and B cells in the islets of Langerhans of the rat. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 32, 92–112 (1959b).
- The development of the mammalian endocrine pancreas. Biol. Neonat. (Basel) (in press) (1966).
Helly, K.: Studien über Langerhanssche Inseln. Arch. mikr. Anat. 67, 124–141 (1906).
Hjärre, A.: Sektionsbefund beim Diabetes mellitus des Hundes und der Katze. Arch. wiss. prakt. Tierheilk. 57, 1–76 (1928).
Huxley, J. S.: Problems of relative growth. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd. 1932.
Jirásek, J. E.: Die Histogenese und Histochemie der Beta-Zellen der Langerhansschen Inseln im Pankreas menschlicher Embryonen. Acta histochem. (Jena) 22, 62–65 (1965).
Jung, S.: Zucht und Haltung der wichtigsten Laboratoriumsversuchstiere. Jena: Gustav Fischer 1958.
Liegner, B.: Studien zur Entwicklung des Pankreas, besonders der Langerhansschen Inseln. Z. mikr. anat. Forsch. 30, 494–529 (1932).
Mosca, L.: Variazioni nella citologia insulopancreatica della cavia in rapporto all ‘eta’. Folia endocr. (Roma) 12, 151–157 (1959).
Opie, E. L.: On the histology of the islands of Langerhans of the pancreas. Bull. Johns Hopk. Hosp. 11, 205–209 (1900).
Robb, P.: The development of the islets of Langerhans in the human fetus. Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 46, 335–343 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the United States Public Health Service (AM-05759-05), the Swedish Medical Research Council (12X-562-02; 12X-109-03) and the Medical Faculty of Uppsala.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Petersson, B. The two types of alpha cells during the development of the guinea-pig pancreas. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 75, 371–380 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336870
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336870