Effects of prolonged maternal fast on the pancreas of 18-21-day-old foetal rats. Ultrastructural and morphometric study of the beta cells.

After maternal fasting for 72 h the pancreatic beta cells of 18-day-old foetal rats show a conspicuous enrichment in secretory material, with an increase of pancreatic insulin concentration and a marked development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. The morphometric analysis shows that the intracytoplasmic migration of the secretory granules is inhibited, principally inside the cell web. Consequently the number of secretory granules fused with plasma membrane decreases and this is associated with a decreased foetal plasma insulin. The difference in the ultrastructural aspect of the beta cells of foetuses from fasting mothers and of foetuses from fed mothers is less conspicuous at 19 days of gestation and progressively disappears at 20 and 21 days. The modifications in ultrastructural aspect and in functional state are discussed.