Histopathological Lesions in the Pancreas of a Rat Model of Diabetes Induced with Complete Freund's Adjuvant and Low-Dose Streptozotocin^*)

Summary

Neither injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) alone nor the administration of low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) to rats produced remarkable histopathological changes in the endocrine pancreas, but treatment with the combination of both resulted in necrosis of beta cells. When the combination of CFA/STZ was given two times, necrosis progressed, and the beta cell reserve was depleted to such an extend that persistent hyperglycemia ensued. These changes were associated with a significant reduction in the apparent islet size. A single injection of CFA induced pancreatitis and inflammatory lesions in the exocrine parenchyma with no insular involvement. Three injections caused extensive destruction of pancreatic acinar tissue but only moderate beta cell injury in the minority of islets. Apart from mild degranulation of beta cells, treatment with STZ did not produce histopathological changes in the pancreas. These results suggest that the acute inflammatory process induced by CFA may initially damage the beta cells, increasing thereby their susceptibility to the action of STZ.

Key words

Pancreatitis - Beta cell necrosis - Islet size - Morphology - Ultrastructure