Enzymehistochemical studies on the pancreatic islets in mice injected with anti-insulin serum.

Abstract

Islets of Langerhans in white mice with a diabetic syndrome after single and repeated injections of anti-insulin serum were studied by enzymehistochemical methods and compared with controls. Changes in activity of some enzymes were noted in the islet area in accordance with the histopathological findings of severe degranulation and hypersecretory changes of the beta cells. — The α-glycerophosphate oxidase (GPOX) showed the most sensitive and severe decrease of activity whereas the acid phosphatase (ACPase) was only slightly decreased. Compared with the enzyme activity in normal mice, no significant changes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) could be observed. The only enzyme showing an increased activity was the glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase). The studies of the cytochrome oxidase (CCOX), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), acid phosphatase (ACPase), alkaline phosphatase (APase) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) revealed no alterations of the enzyme patterns under these experimental conditions. The findings are discussed with regard to the hypothetical relations between the pentose phosphate shunt (indicator enzyme: G-6-PD), the glycerophosphate cycle (indicator enzyme: GPOX) and the phosphorylation of glucose (indicator enzyme: G-6-Pase) to insulin synthesis and release.