The unique cytoarchitecture of human pancreatic islets has implications for islet cell function

The cytoarchitecture of human islets has been examined, focusing on cellular associations that provide the anatomical framework for paracrine interactions. By using confocal microscopy and multiple immunofluorescence, we found that, contrary to descriptions of prototypical islets in textbooks and in the literature, human islets did not show anatomical subdivisions. Insulin-immunoreactive beta cells, glucagon-immunoreactive alpha cells, and somatostatin-containing delta cells were found scattered throughout the human islet. Human beta cells were not clustered, and most (71%) showed associations with other endocrine cells, suggesting unique paracrine interactions in human islets. Human islets contained…

• JD
  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International

  Award: 4-2004-361
• DR
  Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
• NN
  Novo Nordisk
• V
  Vetenskapsrådet
• NN
  Novo Nordisk Fonden
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: M01RR16587