[Characteristics of the islet apparatus of the pancreas in rats with genetic spontaneous hypertension].

In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at the age of 7-9 weeks a poor development of the beta-cellular part of the islet-cell tissue was found, as compared to normotensive Wistar rats of the same age (a lower number of beta-cellular islets, decreased mass of the islet-cell tissue). With glucose load in SHR hyperglycemia was more distinct and longer lasting, which indicates the development of insulin insufficiency in them, in a situation demanding forced insulin incretion. A histochemical examination proved a reduction of the insulin content in the islet-cells of these animals, as compared with the control ones. The above mentioned changes evidently do not pertain to the primary genetically-determined pathology of their pancreas, but are of a secondary nature of atrophy of the insulin-forming tissue, that is probably conditioned by the decreased tissue requirements (target) for insulin due to the increased permeability of the cell membranes.