Induction of islet B-cell regeneration in partially pancreatectomized rats by poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitors.

In order to clarify the mechanism of the prevention of diabetes mellitus developing after subtotal pancreatectomy, we examined regenerative activities of islet B-cells in 90% pancreatectomized and poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitor-treated rats by using autoradiographic and stathmokinetic techniques. Thirty days after 90% pancreatectomy, islets of rats without 3-aminobenzamide treatment were decreased in number, small in size and had irregular contour. Degranulation of the B-cells and fibrotic degeneration were frequently encountered. On the contrary, islets of remaining pancreas in rats receiving 3-aminobenzamide were increased in number, and their diameters ranged from 0.3-0.6 mm, being about two fold larger than those of normal rats. The labeling index of 3H-thymidine autoradiography and the mitotic indices in islet B-cells were increased in a temporally correlated manner in the 3-aminobenzamide treated rats. The mitotic indices of the 3-aminobenzamide-treated group on the 5th, 7th, 10th and 15th days were significantly larger than those in the control group. These results indicate that poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitors can induce self-replication or regeneration of B-cells in partially pancreatectomized rats.