QUANTITATIVE AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY ON H-3 LEUCINE UPTAKE OF PERI-INSULAR AND TELEINSULAR ACINAR-CELLS OF THE PANCREAS IN NORMAL AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-DIABETIC MICE

The uptake of H-3-leucine by peri- and tele-insular acinar cells of the pancreas was analyzed quantitatively 60 min after the intraperitoneal injection of H-3-leucine in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice. A large tissue sample was analyzed and the gain density was counted with a color image analyzer equipped with a computer. The radioactivity was expressed as number of silver grains per acinar cell as well as per unit area of acinar tissue. In normal mice, the radioactivity in peri-insular acinar cells was 43% greater than in tele-insular acinar cells. The intercalated ducts associated with the former also showed a larger number of silver grains. In streptozotocin-diabetic mice, the uptake of H-3-leucine in peri- and tele-insular acinar cells was almost similar. The estimate of mean acinar cell profile area was 30% larger in the peri-insular acini of normal mice, while no difference was observed between the estimates of peri- and tele-insular acinar cells of diabetic mice. These results confirm previous reports that the B cell serection plays a certain role in the protein synthesis of pancreatic acinar cells, especially for the cells of peri-insular acini.