Stefan Y, Malaisse-Lagae F, Yoon J W, Notkins A L, Orci L
Diabetologia. 1978 Nov;15(5):395-401. doi: 10.1007/BF01219649.
The endocrine cell populations of pancreatic islets in encephalomyocarditis (EMC)-virus infected mice were assessed quanititatively by immunofluorescence using specific antisera against 4 islet hormones. A marked reduction of the volume of insulin-containing (B-) cells (up to one tenth of control values) was observed at all stages studied in the hyperglycaemic mice. This was accompanied by the inversion of the normal ratio between B- and non B-cells. The volume of the latter cell types was also modified at different time points after infection: glucagon-cells were augmented 14 days after infection; PP-cells were decreased 2--3 days and 21 days after infection; somatostatin-cells decreased to one-fourth of control values in hyperglycaemic animals 21 days after infection. The latter results suggest that non B-cells are also involved in islet reaction to virus infection.
