Cellular composition of the islets of langerhans in the himalayan toad, Bufo melanostictus (Schneider): a light microscopical study.

The pancreatic islet tissue of Bufo melanostictus, investigated by differential staining techniques, is generally condensed in the anterior and middle regions, and contains distinguishable islets of various size, shape and or irregular configuration. Histologically, 3 distinct cell types have been identified: B, A1 and A2. Various tinctorial characteristics of B cells reveal that they correspond to the insulin producing B-cells of other vertebrates. The A cells are a few in number, some of which definitely show positive argyrophilia (= A1). A few isolated A- and B-cells are found scattered in the exocrine tissue. A conspicuous feature of several B-cells in some specimens of Bufo melanostictus is the presence of vacuoles of varying size.