Abstract
Summary
The sequential development of hydropic degeneration (glycogen infiltration) in the dog pancreas during administration of purified anterior pituitary growth hormone has been studied. Fifteen mature normal mongrel dogs each received 3 mg/kilo of growth hormone daily subcutaneously. Two each were sacrificed on alternate days for 14 days. Eight animals were used as controls. It was found that sometimes glycogen is normally present in ductular epithelium but not in B cells. Increased vacuolization (glycogen infiltration) of intralobular and intercalated ducts developed prior to and generally in the absence of the appearance of glycogen in the B cells of the islets. These findings are taken to support the hypothesis that hydropic degeneration of B cells is not a degenerative lesion resulting from “functional exhaustion” but is rather a morphologic expression of hyperglycemia similar to that seen in other organs.
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