Pancreatic islets subjected to different concentrations of glucose in vitro. A study with special regard to mitochondrial changes.

Isolated pancreatic islets of mice and gerbils were cultured for 6 days at low (2mM) or high (20mM) concentrations of glucose after which they were studied using qualitative and quantitative electron microscopy, histo- and microchemistry, and X-ray microanalysis. Compared with the islets cultured at high glucose, those subjected to low glucose exhibited enhanced succinate dehydrogenase activity, a decreased content of adenosine triphosphate, and an increased volume of B-cell mitochondria which often were rounded or oval.