Morphological aspects of the endocrine pancreas in a prednisolone-treated infant.

The endocrine pancreas of a corticosteroid-treated infant during the course of nephrotic syndrome was morphologically studied. Islet cell hyperplasia and dispersed endocrine cell aggregates between acinar tissue were observed. A marked numerical increase of B cells was identified by using cytochemical and immunofluorescent methods. Morphometric data support the morphological observations. The findings suggest that corticosteroid treatment induces endocrine cell replication and neogenesis.