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The possibility to quantitatively study specific molecular/cellular features of complete human organs with preserved spatial 3D context would have widespread implications for pre-clinical and clinical medicine. Whereas optical 3D imaging approaches have experienced a formidable revolution, they have remained limited due to current incapacities in obtaining specific labelling within large tissue volumes. We present a simple approach enabling reconstruction of antibody labeled cells within entire human organs with preserved organ context. We demonstrate the utility of the approach by providing volumetric data and 3D distribution of hundreds of thousands of islets of Langerhans within the human pancreas. By assessments of pancreata from non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic individuals, we display previously unrecognized features of the human islet mass distribution and pathology. As such, this method may contribute not only in unraveling new information of the pancreatic anatomy/pathophysiology, but it may be translated to essentially any antibody marker or organ system. Hahn et al. present a method to visualize the endocrine human pancreas in 3D and calculate volumetric data. Using immunolabeling to visualize targets of interest and in reconstructing large tissue parts from imaged cm3-sized tissue blocks, they use their method to reveal previously unknown morphological differences in the endocrine pancreas affected with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility to assess pancreatic anatomy with microscopic resolution in three dimensions (3D) would significantly add to pathological analyses of disease processes. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a bleak prognosis with over 90% of the patients dying within 5 years after diagnosis. Cure can be achieved by surgical resection, but the efficiency remains drearily low. Here we demonstrate a method that without prior immunohistochemical labelling provides insight into the 3D microenvironment and spread of PDAC and premalignant cysts in intact surgical biopsies. The method is based solely on the autofluorescent properties of the investigated tissues using optical projection tomography and/or light-sheet fluorescence microscopy. It does not interfere with subsequent histopathological analysis and may facilitate identification of tumor-free resection margins within hours. We further demonstrate how the developed approach can be used to assess individual volumes and numbers of the islets of Langerhans in unprecedently large biopsies of human pancreatic tissue, thus providing a new means by which remaining islet mass may be assessed in settings of diabetes. Generally, the method may provide a fast approach to provide new anatomical insight into pancreatic pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously shown that human embryonic stem cell (hESC) therapy to injured rabbit vocal folds (VFs) induces human tissue generation with regained VF vibratory capacity. The aims of this study were to test the sustainability of such effect and to what extent derivatives of the transplanted hESCs are propagated in the VFs. The VFs of 14 New Zealand rabbits were injured by a localized resection. HESCs were transplanted to 22 VFs which were analyzed for persistence of hESCs after six weeks and after three months. At three months, the VFs were also analyzed for viscoelasticity, measured as dynamic viscosity and elastic modulus, for the lamina propria (Lp) thickness and relative content of collagen type I. Three months after hESC cell therapy, the dynamic viscosity and elastic modulus of the hESC treated VFs were similar to normal controls and lower than untreated VFs (P≤ 0.011). A normalized VF architecture, reduction in collagen type I, and Lp thickness were found compared with untreated VFs (P≤ 0.031). At three months, no derivatives of hESCs were detected. HESCs transplanted to injured rabbit VFs restored the vibratory characteristics of the VFs, with maintained restored function for three months without remaining hESCs or derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice lacking ALK activity have previously been reported to exhibit subtle behavioral phenotypes. In this study of ALK of loss of function mice we present data supporting a role for ALK in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in male mice. We observed lower level of serum testosterone at P40 in ALK knock-out males, accompanied by mild disorganization of seminiferous tubules exhibiting decreased numbers of GATA4 expressing cells. These observations highlight a role for ALK in testis function and are further supported by experiments in which chemical inhibition of ALK activity with the ALK TKI crizotinib was employed. Oral administration of crizotinib resulted in a decrease of serum testosterone levels in adult wild type male mice, which reverted to normal levels after cessation of treatment. Analysis of GnRH expression in neurons of the hypothalamus revealed a significant decrease in the number of GnRH positive neurons in ALK knock-out mice at P40 when compared with control littermates. Thus, ALK appears to be involved in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by regulating the timing of pubertal onset and testis function at the upper levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse models of Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes represent the most widely used preclinical diabetes research systems. We applied state of the art optical imaging schemes, spanning from single islet resolution to the whole organ, providing a first longitudinal, 3D-spatial and quantitative account of β-cell mass (BCM) dynamics and islet longevity in STZ-treated mice. We demonstrate that STZ-induced β-cell destruction predominantly affects large islets in the pancreatic core. Further, we show that hyperglycemic STZ-treated mice still harbor a large pool of remaining β-cells but display pancreas-wide downregulation of glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2). Islet gene expression studies confirmed this downregulation and revealed impaired β-cell maturity. Reversing hyperglycemia by islet transplantation partially restored the expression of markers for islet function, but not BCM. Jointly our results indicate that STZ-induced hyperglycemia results from β-cell dysfunction rather than β-cell ablation and that hyperglycemia in itself sustains a negative feedback loop restraining islet function recovery. Hahn, van Krieken et al. provide a quantitative account of β-cell mass dynamics and islet longevity in mice treated with Streptozotocin (STZ). They find that STZ-induced hyperglycemia primarily results from β-cell dysfunction rather than its ablation. This study provides insights into how the most widely used preclinical diabetes model works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In type 2 diabetes mellitus, there is a progressive loss of beta-cell mass. Bariatric surgery has in recent investigations showed promising results in terms of diabetes remission, but little is established regarding the effect of surgery on the survival or regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells. In this study, we aim to explore how bariatric surgery with its subsequent hormonal alterations affects the islets of Langerhans.Methods: Twenty-four Goto-Kakizaki rats were operated with duodenojejunostomy (DJ), sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or sham operation. From the 38th week after surgery, body weight, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, mixed meal tolerance with repeated measures of insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1, gastrin and total ghrelin were evaluated. Forty-six weeks after surgery, the animals were euthanized and the total beta-cell mass in all animals was examined by three-dimensional volume quantification by optical projection tomography based on the signal from insulin-specific antibody staining.Results: Body weight did not differ between groups (P(g) = 0.37). SG showed lower fasting blood glucose compared to DJ and sham (P(g) = 0.037); HbA1c levels in SG were lower compared to DJ only (p < 0.05). GLP-1 levels were elevated for DJ compared to SG and sham (P(g) = 0.001), whereas gastrin levels were higher in SG compared to the two other groups (P(g) = 0.002). Beta-cell mass was significantly greater in animals operated with SG compared to both DJ and sham (p = 0.036).Conclusion: Sleeve gastrectomy is superior to duodenojejunostomy and sham operation when comparing the preservation of beta-cell mass 46 weeks after surgery in Goto-Kakizaki rats. This could be related to both the increased gastrin levels and the long-term improvement in glycemic parameters observed after this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reprogramming of pancreatic exocrine cells into cells resembling beta cells may provide a strategy for treating diabetes. Here we show that transient administration of epidermal growth factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor to adult mice with chronic hyperglycemia efficiently stimulates the conversion of terminally differentiated acinar cells to beta-like cells. Newly generated beta-like cells are epigenetically reprogrammed, functional and glucose responsive, and they reinstate normal glycemic control for up to 248 d. The regenerative process depends on Stat3 signaling and requires a threshold number of Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3)-expressing acinar cells. In contrast to previous work demonstrating in vivo conversion of acinar cells to beta-like cells by viral delivery of exogenous transcription factors, our approach achieves acinar-to-beta-cell reprogramming through transient cytokine exposure rather than genetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted; see accompanying Retraction Note, which can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]