[Ultrastructural features of pancreatic islet cells during prolonged glucose administration]

The time course of ultrastructural changes in pancreatic islet cells was studied in experiments on albino male rats in prolonged administration of glucose at a dose of 15 g per 1 kg of body mass 3 times daily. Changes in the ultrastructures of beta-cells revealed in the first 10 days, indicated their functional tension. Later on (in 15-30 days) an increase in the level of blood serum immunoreactive insulin manifested itself in hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the intracellular structures of beta-insulocytes. An increase in the synthesis and excretion of insulin by beta-cells promoted the utilization of administered glucose manifesting itself in hypoglycemia on an empty stomach and a more intensive increment of the body mass of experimental animals. A relative volume of pancreatic islets over a studied period did not significantly change as compared with the control one.