Antral endocrine cells in nonobese diabetic mice

The antral endocrine cells were investigated in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice by means of immunohistochemistry, image analysis, and radioimmunoassays (RIA). As controls BALB/CJ mice of the same age and sex as the NOD mice were used. The number of gastrin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells was significantly decreased in both prediabetic and diabetic mice. There was no statistical difference between the NOD mice and controls regarding the serotonin-immunoreactive cells. Somatostatin levels as revealed by RIA in the antrum of both prediabetic and diabetic NOD mice were lower than those of the controls. There was no statistical difference in the level of antral gastrin between NOD mice and the controls. It was concluded that the changes in antral cells are primary to the onset of diabetes, and that the abnormalities observed in the antral cells in an animal model for diabetes type I might have relevance for the upper gastrointestinal dysfunction displayed in human diabetes.