Virus-induced pancreatic disease: alterations in concentration of glucose and amylase in blood.

Abstract

Infection of mice with coxsackie B viruses resulted in an acinar pancreatitis. Levels of amylase in serum during the acute phase of the infection were elevated as much as 10-fold, and the amylase content of the pancreas was decreased by over 95%. Histologic examination revealed marked destruction of the acinar cells with little or no effect on the beta cells. Levels of glucose in blood were significantly reduced during the acute infection, but at no time was there evidence of hyperglycemia. In contrast, mice infected with the M variant of encephalomyocarditis virus became markedly hyperglycemic but had only slight elevations of serum amylase levels. These findings are consistent with the earlier observation that encephalomyocarditis virus destroys beta cells but has little effect on acinar cells. Coxsackie B viruses and encephalomyocarditis virus appear to be valuable models for study of the effect of viral infections on the acinar and beta cells of the pancreas.