Remodeling of the innervation of pancreatic islets accompanies insulitis preceding onset of diabetes in the NOD mouse.

• The innervation of the islets of Langerhans may constitute a first target for the autoimmunity that develops in type 1 diabetes. Here, we report the occurrence of a decrease in general innervation within the islets in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, and the establishment of strands of Schwann cells, as detected via p75 and S-100 immunoreactivity (IR), and varicose nerve fibers expressing tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) in association with the immune cells. The findings suggest that there are marked attempts for neurotrophins to promote nerve ingrowth and survival for islet tissue and that remodeling of innervation occurs in the continuation of the insulitis process preceding the onset of type 1 diabetes.

Nyckelord

Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism

Animals

Animals; Newborn

Diabetes Mellitus; Type 1/metabolism/pathology/*physiopathology

Disease Models; Animal

Female

Immunohistochemistry

Islets of Langerhans/growth & development/*innervation

Mice

Mice; Inbred NOD

Nerve Fibers/metabolism

Oncogene Proteins v-fos/metabolism

Receptor; trkA/metabolism

Receptor; trkB/metabolism

S100 Proteins/metabolism

Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)