Superior beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression in a subpopulation of rat islets identified by high...

The blood perfusion of individual pancreatic islets is highly variable, with a subgroup of islets having high perfusion and blood vessels responsive to further blood flow increase induced by glucose. This study tested the hypothesis that there is heterogeneity between islets with regard to beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression based on differences in their blood perfusion.

Fluorescent microspheres were injected into the ascending aorta, and then microsphere-containing and non-microsphere-containing pancreatic islets were isolated for investigation. By this procedure, the 5% of islets with the greatest blood perfusion were identified for study. Islet endothelial cells were isolated separately to investigate the role of improved vascular support in the observed differences.

The vascular network was found to be more dense and tortuous in microsphere-containing than other islets. The most highly blood-perfused islets also had a higher rate of beta cell proliferation, superior beta cell function and a markedly different gene expression from other islets. Cultured islets exposed to islet endothelial cell products had a similarly increased beta cell proliferation rate, yet significantly fewer changes in gene expression than observed in the most highly blood-perfused islets.

A novel heterogeneity between islets was observed, with superior beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression in a subpopulation of islets identified by high blood perfusion. In contrast with a previously described population of low-oxygenated, sleeping islets, which are recruited into functionality when needed, the presently described heterogeneity is shown to remain in vitro after islet isolation.