Diabetes imaging—quantitative assessment of islets of Langerhans distribution in murine pancreas using extended-focus optical coherence microscopy

Corinne Berclaz,Joan Goulley,Arno Bouwens,Dimitri Van De Ville,Anne Grapin-Botton,Anthony C Davison,Erica Martin-Williams,Martin Villiger,Theo Lasser,Christophe Pache

doi:10.1364/boe.3.001365

Abstract

Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia that can result from the loss of pancreatic insulin secreting β-cells in the islets of Langerhans. We analyzed ex vivo the entire gastric and duodenal lobes of a murine pancreas using extended-focus Optical Coherence Microscopy (xfOCM). To identify and quantify the islets of Langerhans observed in xfOCM tomograms we implemented an active contour algorithm based on the level set method. We show that xfOCM reveals a three-dimensional islet distribution consistent with Optical Projection Tomography, albeit with a higher resolution that also enables the detection of the smallest islets (≤ 8000 μm3). Although this category of the smallest islets represents only a negligible volume compared to the total β-cell volume, a recent study suggests that these islets, located at the periphery, are the first to be destroyed when type I diabetes develops. Our results underline the capability of xfOCM to contribute to the understanding of the development of diabetes, especially when considering islet volume distribution instead of the total β-cell volume only.

Highlights

Diabetes is a major health problem that results from defective pancreatic β -cells in the islets of Langerhans, causing hyperglycemia [1]
According to the World Health Organisation (August 2011), 346 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes
Many aspects of the disease mechanism are understood, several open questions about the mechanisms involved in the progression of type I and II diabetes remain

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes is a major health problem that results from defective pancreatic β -cells in the islets of Langerhans, causing hyperglycemia [1]. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which T-cells infiltrate the islets, leading to the destruction of the insulin producing β -cells [2]. Type II diabetes, on the other hand, results from insulin resistance of the peripheral tissues and from insufficient compensation by β -cells [3]. The difficulties faced in observing individual islets in patients or live mice significantly hinder research, and limit our ability to monitor putative beneficial treatments that should protect β -cells, improve their function or promote their proliferation during diabetes. Class histogram of the boxes to which the pixel belongs Level set method. 4. On each local maximum add a sphere with radius proportional to the EDT pixel value (e)

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