Morphologic abnormalities observed in retina, pancreas and kidney of diabetic Chinese hamsters.

Abstract

Intracellular glycogen deposits were consistently found in the retina, kidney and pancreatic islets of diabetic-ketonuric Chinese hamsters. Accumulation of glycogen in the outer nuclear layer of the retina was mostly associated with severity of the disease, but was not related to age or sex. The type of retinal cell involved in the accumulation of glycogen was not clearly established. However, the position of the affected cell, side by side with retinal neurons, suggests that the glycogen deposits were within Müller cells. These giant glias normally synthesize and store glycogen. All ketonuric Chinese hamsters examined showed some accumulation of glycogen in distal tubules of the kidney. This abnormal glycogen was not found in glucosuric non-ketonuric or in nondiabetic Chinese hamsters. Variable amounts of glycogen were found inΒ cells of pancreatic islets of diabetic hamsters, as reported by others. However, accumulation of glycogen was also found inα and D islet cells from 2 middle aged Chinese hamsters with long term glucosuria and recent ketonuria. Abnormal glucose and glycogen metabolism seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes in the Chinese hamster.