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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arvy, L., Quivy, D.: Données sur la répartition des labrocytes chez le chien. C. R. Ass. Anat. 42, 234–241 (1955).
Asboe-Hansen, G.: Mast cells in health and disease. Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. 44, 1048–1056 (1968).
Bell, E. T.: Hyalinization of the islets of Langerhans in Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes 1, 341–344 (1952).
—— Hyalinization of the islets of Langerhans in non-diabetic individuals. Amer. J. Path. 35, 801–805 (1959).
Bower, D., Chadwin, C. G.: Simultaneous demonstration of mast cells and plasma cells. J. clin. Path. 19, 298–299 (1966).
Brini, A., Porte, A.: Amylose isolée de la conjonctive. Étude au microscope électronique. Arch. Ophtal. (Paris) 30, 231–244 (1970).
Christensen, H. E.: Improved histochemical staining techniques for mucopolysaccharides applied to experimental and human amyloids. In: Amyloidosis (Mandema, E., Ruinen, L., Scholten, J. H., Cohen, A. S., eds.), p. 235. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica Foundation 1968.
Ehrlich, J. C., Ratner, I. M.: Amyloidosis of the islets of Langerhans. A restudy of islet hyalin in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals. Amer. J. Path. 38, 49–59 (1961).
Enerbäck, L.: Mast cells in rat gastrointestinal mucosa. I. Effects of fixation. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 66, 289–302 (1966a).
—— Mast cells in rat gastrointestinal mucosa. 2. Dye-binding and metachromatic properties. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 66, 303–312 (1966b).
Kelsall, M. A., Crabb, E. D.: Lymphocytes and mast cells. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Company 1959.
Lacy, P. E.: Pancreatic beta cell. In: Aetiology of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Ciba Foundation Colloquia on Endocrinology, vol. 15, p. 75. Boston: Little, Brown & Company 1964.
Ogilvie, R. F.: The endocrine pancreas in human diabetes. In: The structure and metabolism of the pancreatic islets (Brolin, S. E., Hellman, B., Knutson, H., eds.), p. 499. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1964.
Opie, E. L.: On relation of chronic interstitial pancreatitis to the islands of Langerhans and to diabetes mellitus. J. exp. Med. 5, 397–428 (1900).
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry. Theoretical and applied, 2nd ed. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd 1960.
Puchtler, H., Sweat, F., Levine, M.: On the binding of Congo red by amyloid. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 10, 355–364 (1962).
Ranl∅v, P., Wanstrup, J.: Electron-microscopic demonstration of intracellular amyloid in experimental mouse amyloidosis. In: Amyloidosis (Mandema, E., Ruinen, L., Scholten, J. H., Cohen, A. S., eds.), p. 74. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica Foundation 1968.
Schwartz, P.: Über Amyloidose des Gehirns, der Langerhansschen Inseln und des Herzens alter Personen. Zbl. allg. Path. path. Anat. 108, 169–187 (1965).
Selye, H.: The mast cells. Washington: Butterworths (1965).
Staemmler, M.: Untersuchung über Vorkommen und Bedeutung der histiogenen Mastzellen im menschlichen Körper unter normalen und pathologischen Verhältnissen. Frankfurt. Z. Path. 25, 391–435 (1921).
Steiner, H.: Endokrin aktive Tumoren mit Amyloidstroma. Eine morphologische Untersuchung von Insulinomen und einem Calcitonin produzierenden Tumor. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 348, 170–180 (1969).
Teilum, G.: Pathogenesis of amyloidosis. The two-phase cellular theory of local secretion. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 61, 21–45 (1964).
Warren, S., LeCompte, P. M., Legg, M. A.: the pathology of diabetes mellitus. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger 1966.
Zimmermann, A.: Über das Vorkommen der Mastzellen beim Meerschweinchen. Arch. mikr Anat. 72, 662–670 (1908).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
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.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544103