Rat pancreatic beta-cells in protein deficiency: a study involving morphometric analysis and alloxan effect.

The possible cause(s) of impaired glucose tolerance in protein-calorie malnutrition was studied. The beta-cell mass was morphometrically determined and the sensitivity to alloxan was characterized in rats fed ad libitum a 4% protein diet, pair-fed or fed ad libitum a 20% protein diet. The percentage of beta-cells in the pancreas was neither affected by protein deficiency nor influenced by caloric intake. However, the diabetogenicity of alloxan was greatly reduced in protein-malnourished rats. This reduction in diabetogenicity by alloxan was partially reversed by feeding animals with sulfhydryl compound. These results suggest that decreased insulin secretion in protein malnutrition is not due to a reduction in beta-cell number.