Light and electron microscopic studies on the cytological changes in the rat pancreatic islets induced by sodium...

The effect of sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate ( DEDTC ) administration upon the structure of the pancreatic islet cells has been examined in the rat. In light microscopy, the aldehyde fuchsin stainability of the B cell granules was found to increase notably at 6 h and thereafter following the medication. In electron microscopy, the B cell granules with a porous core were shown to predominate over those with a homogeneous core containing paracrystalline structures between 30 min and 3 h following the medication. Between 6 and 12 h following medication, occasional B cells were seen to be provided with large secretory granules with a porous core. The results of the present study have been discussed with special reference to the chelating action of DEDTC .