Functional and morphologic changes associated with insulinoma transplantation into diabetic rats.

Because of the technical difficulties encountered with human islet cell transplantation, alternatives toward supplying the juvenile diabetic with an endogenous insulin source are sought. With the use of a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, it was found that by transplantation of a benign insulinoma, the glomerular deposition of material stained by the periodic acid-Schiff method, IgG, IgM, and C3 may be prevented. This effect was found only when transplantation of the insulin-producing tumor occurred within 2-4 weeks of the induction of diabetes. The data suggest that successful insulinoma engraftment can prevent the glomerular mesangial lesions from developing.