Secretory, enzymatic, and morphological characterization of rat pancreatic endocrine tumours induced by streptozotocin and nicotinamide

Rat pancreatic endocrine tumours were induced by administration of streptozotocin plus nicotinamide. Fifteen to eighteen months later tumours with wet weights of 0.1 to 224 mg were isolated. These tumours were compared with normal rat pancreatic islets. Insulin release from perifused tumours was stimulated by D-glucose, L-leucine, 2-ketoisocaproate, and D-glyceraldehyde, potentiated by theophylline and inhibited by norepinephrine. Compared with isolated rat pancreatic islets, however, insulin secretory responsiveness to glucose stimulation and insulin content were reduced in tumour tissue. Hypoglycaemia in tumour bearing rats and impaired diffusion of insulin out of the tumours may explain this difference. The pattern of enzyme activities observed in tumour tissue was typical for pancreatic endocrine tissue. The activities of succinate dehydrogenase, the two types of the monoamine oxidase, and α-glucosidase were in the normal range in tumour tissue. Only the activities of 5' nucleotidase and glutamate dehydrogenase were decreased. Immunocytochemical analysis of the tumors revealed that they contained an average of 91% B-cells. In addition 8% of D-cells were encountered. Proportions of A-cells and PP-cells ranged below 1%. Thus this endocrine tumour of the pancreas with a high proportion of functionally intact B-cells is an interesting model for studying regulation of secretion and endocrine tumour development.