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This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-09-0002v1 201/2/231    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chamson-Reig, A. Articles by Hill, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chamson-Reig, A. Articles by Hill, D.

A Chamson-Reig, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
E Arany, Diabetes and Metabolism, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
K Summers, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
D Hill, St Joseph's Health Care, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, N6A4V2, Canada

Correspondence: David Hill, Email: dhill{at}lri.sjhc.london.on.ca

Abstract

Dietary insult in early life can affect the development and future function of the endocrine pancreas. We maintained pregnant non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice on a low protein (LP, 8% protein vs control, 20%) diet from conception until the weaning of pups at day 21. Serum insulin and pancreatic insulin content were reduced in LP-fed NOD offspring at 8 weeks, as were serum interferon gamma and pancreatic tumour necrosis factor alpha , while the number of pancreatic islets demonstrating peri-insulitis, and the degree of invasiveness, was reduced. To determine if LP caused early morphometric changes in the pancreas we measured mean islet area at days 3 and 21. Mean islet size did not differ with diet, but by 8 weeks age LP-fed NOD females exhibited a significantly reduced islet number and mean islet area, and a lower fractional area of pancreas occupied by both alpha and beta cells than control-fed mice. The onset of diabetes was delayed in NOD mice of both genders fed LP diet. The mechanism is likely to involve both altered beta cell morphology and function and changes in cytotoxic cytokines.