Immunohistochemical changes of the islet cells of Langerhans after partial hepatectomy in dogs.

Morphological changes were studied in the islet cells of Langerhans after hepatic resection in dogs. The animals were laparotomized before and 1 wk and 1 month after partial hepatectomy. Pancreatic tissue was taken and immediately immersed in neutral formalin and then stained with PAP. One hundred visual fields were examined microscopically. One month postoperatively there was 4- to 5-fold hypertrophy of the islets of Langerhans (486 +/- 23 micrometers 2 before to 2236 +/- 98 micrometers 2 1 month after operation) (p less than 0.01). A, B, and D cells were also found to be increased in number. D cells, especially, showed mitotic division and proliferation, and the ratio of the number of D cells pre-, 1 wk post-, and 1 month postoperation was 1:1.37:2.80, showing a gradual increase after operation.