Immunohistochemical investigations of the endocrine pancreas in normoglycemic sand rats (Psammomys obesus).

A morphological analysis of the endocrine pancreas in the normoglycemic sand rat (Psammomys obesus) has been carried out and the immunoreactivity for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) studied. The islets of both parts of the pancreas (pancreatic head and tail) investigated were of the 'mantle' type: centrally located B-cells and A-, D- and PP-cells at the periphery. In the 'glucagon islets' (tail of pancreas) predominated the A-cells, while the PP-cells were more abundant in the "PP-islets' (head of the pancreas).