Management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the pancreas causes considerable controversy because rarity of this neoplasm.The aim of the study was to present our results of treatment of patients with NETs and to sum up our experience in surgical management.Material and methods. Thirty four patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas were treated in Department of General, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery of Medical University in Gdańsk (24 inulinomas and 10 nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumors). Insulinoma was present in the head of the pancreas in 3 cases, in the body in 8 cases, and 10 patients had lesion situated within the tail.Results. Localization of the tumor in patients with organic hyperinsulinism was possible in 21 out of 24 operated patients (17 patients with use of preoperative imaging studies, 4 patients with Intraoperative ultrasonography). In 3 remaining patients the localization of the pathologic mass was impossible with use of pre- and intraoperative techniques.Conclusions. Treatment of choice of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas is surgery. Management of patients with islet cells adenomatosis is still difficult clinical problem.
The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced damage in pancreatic islands by stereological methods. Fifty mature normoglycaemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200–250 g, were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10): control; STZ-induced diabetic (D) — by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin; treated control (TC); and treated diabetic (TD₁, ₂), respectively, received 20 and 62.5 g/kg of eucalyptus in their diet, and 2.5 g/L aqueous extract of eucalyptus in their drinking water from one week after induction of diabetes. After four weeks of the experiment, stereological estimation of volume density and total volume of islets and beta cells, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of the islets and pancreas, and total number of islets were carried out. Administration of eucalyptus significantly decreased the weight loss and increase of water and food intake in the treated diabetic groups in comparison to the STZ-induced diabetic (D) group. Volume density and total volume of islets, volume-weighted mean islet volume, mass of islets, and mass of pancreas of both treated diabetic groups were higher than the D group. In TD₂, these stereological parameters increased significantly compared to the D group (p < 0.001). Volume density and total volume of beta cells increased 21% and 65%, respectively, in the TD₂ group, but it was not statistically significant compared to the diabetic group (p > 0.05). The results suggested that Eucalyptus globulus with a dose-dependent manner ameliorates diabetic states by partial restoration of pancreatic beta cells and repair of STZ-induced damage in rats. This study suggests a beneficial effect of eucalyptus in the treatment of diabetes. (Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 2: 112–118)
The effect of diabetes during pregnancy on the endocrine pancreas of the newborn has been studied before, but a detailed morphometric immunocytochemical study is not available. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal diabetes on the morphology of islets in newborn rats. Pancreatic sections were stained by the indirect immunoperoxidase method to localise the insulin-producing β-cells and were used for morphometric analysis. The islet volume density, diameter and volume and the absolute islet cell number were significantly greater in the diabetic group than in controls. The β-cell volume density was significantly lower in the diabetic group, although the β-cell nuclear diameter and volume did not differ significantly in this group. The results obtained from this investigation indicate that maternal diabetes induces islet hypertrophy in newborn offspring and causes an increase in the total islet cell number.
Whereas several reports describing the ultrastructure of the intact pancreatic islets have been recorded, published experience with the ultrastructural integrity of the cultured pancreatic islets is limited. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to provide an ultrastructure identification of the different cells in the cultured islets of the adult rat pancreas, after marking their secretory granules with gold particles. Pancreatic islets were isolated from adult male Wistar rats by the intraductal perfusion of collagenase technique. The islets were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium for 3 days and processed for preparation of ultrathin sections. The sections were stained with the indirect immunogold technique for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Ultrastructural examination of the cultured islets clearly identified the presence of B, A, D and PP-cells, as indicated by the numerous gold particles concentrated predominantly over the secretory granules. The secretory granules of the various cell types of the cultured islets demonstrated several similarities as well as differences from the recorded results of the corresponding secretory granules of the intact islets. The differences probably reflect a deviation in the underlying mechanisms of synthesis, maturation and secretion of the different secretory products of the cells in the cultured islets as they adapt to the in vitro environment.
The effect of maternal diabetes on the foetal endocrine pancreas has been the subject of extensive studies, but a detailed quantitative immunohistochemical investigation is not available. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the effect of gestational diabetes on the morphology of foetal rat islets. Sections were stained with anti-insulin (B cells) antibodies and were used for morphometric analysis. The B cell volume density was significantly lower in the diabetic group, while islet volume density, islet diameter, islet volume and absolute islet cell numbers were significantly greater in the diabetic group. The B cell nuclear diameter and volume were not significantly different in the diabetic group. The results obtained from this investigation indicate that maternal diabetes induces foetal islet hypertrophy and causes an increase in the total islet cell number.