TY - JOUR
T1 - The ontogeny of the endocrine pancreas in the fetal/newborn baboon
AU - Quinn, Amy R.
AU - Blanco, Cynthia L.
AU - Perego, Carla
AU - Finzi, Giovanna
AU - La Rosa, Stefano
AU - Capella, Carlo
AU - Guardado-Mendoza, Rodolfo
AU - Casiraghi, Francesca
AU - Gastaldelli, Amalia
AU - Johnson, Marney
AU - Dick, Edward J.
AU - Folli, Franco
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Erratic regulation of glucose metabolism including hyperglycemia is a common condition in premature infants and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to examine histological and ultrastructural differences in the endocrine pancreas in fetal (throughout gestation) and neonatal baboons. Twelve fetal baboons were delivered at 125 days (d) gestational age (GA), 140d GA, or 175d GA. Eight animals were delivered at term (185d GA); half were fed for 5 days. Seventy-three nondiabetic adult baboons were used for comparison. Pancreatic tissue was studied using light microscopy, confocal imaging, and electron microscopy. The fetal and neonatal endocrine pancreas islet architecture became more organized as GA advanced. The percent areas of α-β-δ-cell type were similar within each fetal and newborn GA (NS) but were higher than the adults (P<0.05) regardless of GA. The ratio of β cells within the islet (whole and core) increased with gestation (P<0.01). Neonatal baboons, which survived for 5 days (feeding), had a 2.5-fold increase in pancreas weight compared with their counterparts killed at birth (PZ0.01). Endocrine cells were also found in exocrine ductal and acinar cells in 125, 140 and 175dGAfetuses. Subpopulation of tissue that coexpressed trypsin and glucagon/insulin shows the presence of cellswithmixed endo-exocrine lineage in fetuses. In summary, the fetal endocrine pancreas has no prevalence of a α-β-δ-cell type with larger endocrine cell percent areas than adults. Cells with mixed endocrine/exocrine phenotype occur during fetal development. Developmental differences may play a role in glucose homeostasis during the neonatal period and may have long-term implications.
AB - Erratic regulation of glucose metabolism including hyperglycemia is a common condition in premature infants and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to examine histological and ultrastructural differences in the endocrine pancreas in fetal (throughout gestation) and neonatal baboons. Twelve fetal baboons were delivered at 125 days (d) gestational age (GA), 140d GA, or 175d GA. Eight animals were delivered at term (185d GA); half were fed for 5 days. Seventy-three nondiabetic adult baboons were used for comparison. Pancreatic tissue was studied using light microscopy, confocal imaging, and electron microscopy. The fetal and neonatal endocrine pancreas islet architecture became more organized as GA advanced. The percent areas of α-β-δ-cell type were similar within each fetal and newborn GA (NS) but were higher than the adults (P<0.05) regardless of GA. The ratio of β cells within the islet (whole and core) increased with gestation (P<0.01). Neonatal baboons, which survived for 5 days (feeding), had a 2.5-fold increase in pancreas weight compared with their counterparts killed at birth (PZ0.01). Endocrine cells were also found in exocrine ductal and acinar cells in 125, 140 and 175dGAfetuses. Subpopulation of tissue that coexpressed trypsin and glucagon/insulin shows the presence of cellswithmixed endo-exocrine lineage in fetuses. In summary, the fetal endocrine pancreas has no prevalence of a α-β-δ-cell type with larger endocrine cell percent areas than adults. Cells with mixed endocrine/exocrine phenotype occur during fetal development. Developmental differences may play a role in glucose homeostasis during the neonatal period and may have long-term implications.
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U2 - 10.1530/JOE-12-0070
DO - 10.1530/JOE-12-0070
M3 - Article
C2 - 22723715
AN - SCOPUS:84866299733
SN - 0022-0795
VL - 214
SP - 289
EP - 299
JO - Journal of Endocrinology
JF - Journal of Endocrinology
IS - 3
ER -