Volume Changes of the Pancreatic Islets during Perinatal Days in the Rat

Abstract

Morphologic and volume changes of the pancreatic islets during perinatal days in the rat were studied.
During 3 days at the end of fetal life, the islet cells containing Gomori's aldehydepositive β granules gradually increased in number and in degree of granulation. The total volume of islets sharply increased at term.
After birth, the total volume of the islets did not increase. The size of islet cells was markedly reduced. The number of β granules in islet cells markedly increased. These observations would support the view of some limitations of insulin secretion under a normal physiologic condition at least during the first 3 days after birth in the rat.