Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-positive nerves in normal and transplanted pancreatic tissue in the anterior eye-chamber of rats.

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase(DBH)-positive nerves were demonstrated in normal and in pancreatic tissue fragments transplanted for 22 and 32 days into the anterior eye-chamber of rats using immunohistochemical techniques. Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-immunopositive neurons of different shapes could be observed in normal pancreas. The neurons had either spindle or oval shapes. In the transplanted tissue, DBH-positive neuronal profiles were found in the stroma. In some cases DBH-immunopositive cells appeared as a cluster of cells around pancreatic ducts and blood vessels or as solitary cells. The wall of pancreatic ducts in the transplants also contained DBH-immunopositive nerve profiles.