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Biomedical subjects

M N Pohl

Publications and source records attributed to M N Pohl.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Polyploidy in islets of normal and diabetic humans.

This study was designed as a pilot project to determine whether the increased polyploidization of pancreatic B cells in diabetic mice reported from our laboratory is also characteristic of human diabetes. Nuclei of hematoxylin and eosin stained islets cells were traced by camera lucida and their volumes determined by semiautomatic particle size analysis. Previous studies have confirmed that nuclear volume can be used as an index of polyploidy, since, in mouse and human islets, the nuclear DNA content is directly proportional to the nuclear volume. Five insulin independent and three insulin dependent human diabetic patients and their age and sex matched controls were studied. The percentages of polyploid nuclei in insulin independent diabetic islets were elevated significantly over those in control subjects in four of five cases; the exception was an 85 year old male who was diagnosed as a diabetic only two months prior to death. Of the three insulin dependent diabetics, one, whose islets appeared otherwise normal, had a significantly greater percentage of polyploid nuclei than the controls; the other two, whose islets were markedly hyalinized, exhibited percentages of polyploid nuclei within normal ranges. The implications of relative percentages of polyploid nuclei in normal and diabetic islets and the possible relationship with previous studies of genetically diabetic mice are discussed.

Adult

Development of polyploidy in B-cells of normal and diabetic mice.

This study was designed to clarify the relationship between pancreatic B-cell polyploidization and the progress of the diabetic syndrome in genetically diabetic (C57BL/Ks-db/db) and normal control mice (C57BL/KsJ) of matched age groups. Nuclear volume was confirmed to be a proper index of the polyploid class of the B-cell by correlation with Feulgen-DNA content as measured by microdensitometry. Nuclei of B-cells, identified by aldehyde fuchsin positive cytoplasmic granules, were traced by camera lucida and their volumes determined by semiautomatic particle size analysis. Six age groups were studied: 4.5, 7, 9.5, 12, 14.5 and 17 weeks. The major conclusions are: 1) The percentage of tetraploid nuclei in normal mice is consistently between 1.0 and 2.0% from 4.5 to 14.5 weeks of age and increases to approximately 3.0% at 17 weeks of age; however, further studies are required to determined the significance of this increase; 2) in all age groups studied, percentages of polyploid nuclei are significantly greater in diabetic than in control mice; 3) the percentage of tetraploid nuclei in diabetic animals is elevated 220% over controls at 4.5 weeks of age, remains constant until 12 weeks (while other parameters such as blood glucose level and body weight continue to rise) and increases significantly between 12 and 14.5 weeks of age. Implications of both the increased polyploidy observed at the onset of disease symptoms, and the dramatic increase occurring during the later stages of the disease, are discussed.

Age Factors