Yonsei Med J.  1969 Jun;10(1):1-9. 10.3349/ymj.1969.10.1.1.

Effect of Hypophysectomy, Adrenalectomy, and Thyroidectomy on the Beta-Cells of the Islets of Langerhans of the Pancreas

• Lee HJ
• Lee YB
• Kim DS

• KMID: 687607
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1969.10.1.1

Abstract

Prolonged administration of anterior hypophyseal, adrenocortical, or thyroid hormones is known to cause degeneration, degranulation and necrosis of the beta-cells in the Langerhans islets of the pancreas. However, the effects of extirpation of these endocrine glands upon the Langerhans islets has not been reported, a1though it is known that removal of any of these glands bring about hypoglycemia, decreased tissue uptake of glucose, and increased tissue sensitivity to insulin. The present investigation is studies of the morphologic alterations of the beta-cells in the Langerhans islets following hypophysectomy, adrenalectomy, or thyroidectomy in rats. Hypophysectomy, adrenalectomy, and thyroidectomy, all induce similar morphologic alterations in the beta-cells of the islets. These consist of increased beta-cell population, the accumlnation of beta-granules, and atrophy of the individual betacell. Therefore, these changes are considered to be not specific following the withdrawal of specific hormones but a common effect of the hypoglycemia due to removal of the hypophysis, adrenals, or thyroid glands. A similar common degeneration of the beta-cells due to hyperglycemia occurs when hormones of these endocrine glands are given excessively.

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones/physiology
Adrenalectomy*
Animal
Atrophy/etiology
Blood Glucose
Diabetes Mellitus/etiology
Glycogen/metabolism
Hyperglycemia/etiology
Hypoglycemia/etiology
Hypophysectomy*
Insulin/secretion
Islets of Langerhans/pathology*
Liver Glycogen/metabolism
Muscles/metabolism
Myocardium/metabolism
Necrosis/etiology
Rats
Staining and Labeling
Thyroidectomy*
Thyroxine/physiology