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Mast cells in the islets of langerhans in insular amyloidosis

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Summary

The number of mast cells in the pancreatic islets in persons 60 years or more without diabetes and with maturity-onset diabetes was determined in an autopsy study. Few mast cells were seen in sections of many islets without amyloid. In the presence of insular amyloidosis the number of intrainsular mast cells increased and this increase was positively correlated with to the amount of amyloid in the islets, both in diabetics and non-diabetics. It is conceivable that the mast cells are of some importance in the formation of amyloid in the pancreatic islets, but other explanations for the numerical increase in mast cells are possible.

Zusammenfassung

In einer Autopsieuntersuchung wurde die Anzahl von Mastzellen in den Pankreasinseln von 60jährigen und älteren Personen ohne Diabetes mellitus und mit Altersdiabetes bestimmt. Einige wenige Mastzellen wurden in Regionen vieler Inseln ohne Amyloid beobachtet. Bei Vorliegen von Amyloidosis war die Anzahl intrainsulärer Mastzellen erhöht, wobei diese Erhöhung eine positive Korrelation zur Menge Amyloid in den Inseln aufwies, sowohl in Diabetikern als auch Nicht-Diabetikern. Es ist denkbar, daß die Mastzellen eine Rolle im Zusammenhang mit der Amyloidbildung in den Pankreasinseln spielen, jedoch sind andere Ursachen für die zahlenmäßige Erhöhung der Mastzellen nicht auszuschließen.

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Supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (project No. B71-12X-102-07C), the Research Fund of the Swedish Diabetes Association and the Medical Faculty of Uppsala. The skilful and devoted help of Mr. Anders Strand and Miss Inga Palmgren is greatly appreciated.

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Westermark, P. Mast cells in the islets of langerhans in insular amyloidosis. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 354, 17–23 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544103

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