Search

Background: Environmental noise is a known stressful factor that induces alterations of various physiological responses in the exposed individuals. It is known very little about the effect of prenatal noise stress on the serum glucose, lipids and morphology of Langerhans islets in neonatal rats. Objectives: In the present study the effect of chronic noise stress on hyperglycemia and lipid profile and morphology of Langerhans islets in neonatal rats, has been investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 8 Wistar pregnant rats were exposed chronically to intermittent white noise during their pregnancy periods (dark cycle, 7 pm - 7 am). Stressed puppies bred under before condition up to 3 months of age. Then both groups were sacrificed. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were determined at first week, 4th and 12th weeks after birth. Morphology of Langerhans islets in mature rats was evaluated using Gomori staining method. Results: Noise did have a significant hyperglycemic effect at 4th and 12th in rats. In addition, serum LDL-cholesterol levels in noise group significantly increased as compared to control group. Also, noise affected group showed significant difference with control group regarding level of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol. Regarding histology of Langerhans islets, noise affected group showed a lower number and granularity of beta cells and also periphery of Langerhans islets are significantly reduced as compared to control group. Conclusions: Noise has a significant hyperglycemic effect and increase lipid profile, also leads to appropriate changes in serum lipids in neonatal and postnatal rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to alleviate the shortage of human donors, the use of porcine islets of Langerhans for xenotransplantation in diabetic patients has been proposed as a solution. To overcome rejection, we have developed a procedure for protecting the islets by combining them with Sertoli cells and placing them in a novel subcutaneous device, that generates an autologous collagen covering. A type 1 diabetic woman was closely monitored for 10 months, and then transplanted in two devices with two months of difference and a third time after 22 months. Here we present a three-yr follow-up. The close monitoring induced a rapid decrease in exogenous insulin requirements, which stabilized between 19 and 28 IU/d for nine months. After transplantation, the requirements reduced further to below 6 IU/d and for some weeks she was insulin free. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased concomitantly. Porcine insulin could be detected in the serum after a glucose challenge and insulin positive cells inside a removed device after two yr. No complications have arisen and no porcine endogenous retrovirus infection has been detected through PCR and RT-PCR. This case demonstrates the feasibility of using the xenotransplantation of porcine cells to alleviate metabolic complications and insulin requirements in type 1 diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]