Swenne I, Borg L A, Crace C J, Schnell Landström A
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Diabetologia. 1992 Oct;35(10):939-45. doi: 10.1007/BF00401422.
Kwashiorkor, the human disease of protein-energy malnutrition, has been implicated in the aetiology of malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, a form of diabetes not uncommon in developing countries. We have previously demonstrated that temporary protein-energy malnutrition in young rats causes a persisting impairment of insulin secretion. The present study investigates whether this secretory deficiency is accompanied by structural alterations of the endocrine pancreas. Three-week-old rats were weaned onto semi-synthetic diets containing either 15% or 5% protein and these diets were maintained for 3 weeks. From 6 weeks of age all rats were fed a commercial chow containing 18% protein. The endocrine pancreas was investigated by light and electron microscopic morphometry at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. In rats not subjected to protein-energy malnutrition there was a progressive increase, with age, of total pancreatic Beta-cell weight and individual Beta-cell size. In 6-week-old rats fed the low protein diet total pancreatic Beta-cell weight and individual Beta-cell size were diminished. In 12-week-old rats previously fed the low protein diet total Beta-cell weight remained lower compared to control rats. It is concluded that protein-energy malnutrition early in life may result in a diminished reserve for insulin production. This may predispose to glucose intolerance or even diabetes in situations with an increased insulin demand.
夸休可尔症，一种蛋白质 - 能量营养不良的人类疾病，被认为与营养不良相关的糖尿病的病因有关，这种糖尿病在发展中国家并不罕见。我们之前已经证明，幼鼠的暂时性蛋白质 - 能量营养不良会导致胰岛素分泌持续受损。本研究调查这种分泌缺陷是否伴随着内分泌胰腺的结构改变。将三周龄的大鼠断奶后喂食含15%或5%蛋白质的半合成饮食，并维持3周。从六周龄开始，所有大鼠都喂食含18%蛋白质的商业饲料。在3周、6周和12周龄时，通过光镜和电镜形态计量学对内分泌胰腺进行研究。在未遭受蛋白质 - 能量营养不良的大鼠中，胰腺β细胞总重量和单个β细胞大小随年龄增长而逐渐增加。在喂食低蛋白饮食的六周龄大鼠中，胰腺β细胞总重量和单个β细胞大小减小。在先前喂食低蛋白饮食的12周龄大鼠中，β细胞总重量仍低于对照大鼠。得出的结论是，生命早期的蛋白质 - 能量营养不良可能导致胰岛素产生储备减少。在胰岛素需求增加的情况下，这可能易引发葡萄糖不耐受甚至糖尿病。
