A STEREOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF RAT ENDOCRINE PANCREAS AFTER A LONG-TERM LOW-PROTEIN DIET

Stereological analysis of rat endocrine pancreas was carried out after 4 months of low-protein intake. Thirty male Wistar rats, aged 2 months at the beginning of the experiment, were divided into three groups. The control group (NP) received a standard laboratory diet. The experimental group (LP) received a low-protein diet, and the pair-fed animals also received a standard laboratory diet, as the NP rats did, but restricted to the amounts consumed by the LP group. All groups were offered drinking water ad lib. Weibel's multipurpose lattice was used to determine the volume fraction of cells and numerical density of islets in the endocrine pancreas. The results showed that the long-term low-protein diet decreased the volume fraction of B-cells and increased that of A-cells. Numerical density of islets was significantly increased, whereas the absolute number was decreased. The mean number of B-cells per islet was found to be decreased and that of D-cells increased. The mean radius of the islets was decreased, as was the mean surface area.