[Endocrine function of the pancreas in experimental diabetes mellitus of rats and its characterization during adaptation to hypoxia].

The present research was aimed at examination of the endocrinal system of the pancreas in diabetes mellitus, adaptation to hypoxia, and their combination in rats in order to elucidate the relationships between A, B, and D cells under various conditions. The status of Langerhans islet cells was assessed by radioimmunoassay, measurements of blood hormones, and by immunologic method for their quantitative detection in cells. Development of the early stages of diabetes mellitus was found to be associated with a marked restructuring of the total endocrinal system of the gland. Reduction of insulin level was parallelled by a compensatory activation of glucagon- and somatostatin-producing systems. Islet cell changes under such conditions were characterized by sex-specific features. Adaptation to hypoxia was found to have a favorable effect on the course of diabetes mellitus in rats, this manifesting by an increase of blood and B cell insulin levels, by inhibition of islet destruction process, and by reduced production of glucagon and somatostatin.