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Staining Protocols for Human Pancreatic Islets
Published on: May 23, 2012
Pancreatic fat content and beta-cell function in men with and without type 2 diabetes
Maarten E Tushuizen1, Mathijs C Bunck, Petra J Pouwels
1Department of Endocrinology/Diabetes Center, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Diabetes Care
|August 2, 2007
Summary
Pancreatic fat accumulation is linked to impaired beta-cell function in humans. This study suggests that excess lipids in the pancreas may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes research
Background:
- Insulin resistance increases lipid exposure in non-adipose tissues.
- Pancreatic islet fatty infiltration may impair beta-cell function, but in vivo human data are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between in vivo pancreatic lipid accumulation and beta-cell function in men with and without type 2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and oral glucose tolerance tests were used.
- 12 insulin-naive type 2 diabetic men and 24 matched nondiabetic men were studied.
Main Results:
- Diabetic men had higher pancreatic fat content (20.4%) compared to controls (9.7%).
- Pancreatic fat negatively correlated with beta-cell function parameters in nondiabetic individuals.
- The association between pancreatic fat and beta-cell dysfunction was primarily observed in nondiabetic subjects.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatic lipid content may contribute to beta-cell dysfunction.
- This dysfunction could play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals.
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