Abstract
Pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, non-operated control, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized and corticosterone-treated. Maternal adrenalectomy was performed on day 6 of gestation. Corticosterone therapy was made from the day at operation to the day at observation. The growth pattern of insulin-producing B-cells was observed immunohistochemically and histometrically from days 12 to 16. The results obtained were as follows: From day 12 to day 15, maternal adrenalectomy resulted in a significant retardation of the growth of insulin-positive B-cells in terms of the collective volume of the cells. Maternal corticosterone therapy prevented this retardation. On day 16, however, the growth of B-cells in collective volume overcame the suppressive effect of maternal adrenalectomy. These results suggest that the lack of adrenocortical hormones causes a retardation of B-cell growth in early development, and that, when once developed well, B-cells can grow independently of the hormones.
