ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Islands of Langerhans
;
Mitochondria
;
Enzymes
;
Tissue Culture
;
Electron Microscopy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Isolated islets of Langerhans from mice were maintained in tissue culture for one week at either a high (28 mM) or a low (3.3 mM) extracellular glucose concentration. Electron microscopic morphometry by means of stereological methods revealed a much greater volume of mitochondria in islet cells cultured at low glucose than in those cultured at high glucose. The former islets also showed a higher activity of the mitochondrial marker enzyme, L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.35). These results indicate a true mitochondrial hypertrophy at the low glucose concentration. Although it is known from previous studies that the islet cell metabolism is diminished after low-glucose culture, the present observations of an increased mitochondrial volume probably do not reflect a degenerative process, but rather adaptive changes towards oxidation of energy yielding substrates other than glucose.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00220177
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