INDUCTION OF CELL-PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION IN THE PANCREAS OF THE ADULT VERVET MONKEY (CERCOPITHECUS-AETHIOPS) - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Cellophane wrapping of the adult Syrian golden hamster pancreas has be en found to result in ductular cell proliferation leading to islet reg eneration. Injection of cytosol from a cellophane-wrapped pancreas int o normal or diabetic hamsters evoked a similar response. In view of th e therapeutic potential of the active substance in this cytosol, it wa s decided to investigate whether a similar response could be achieved in a primate. In normal adult Vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) p ancreas, proliferation is seen only rarely in islet cells and occasion ally in duct and acinar cells. Immunohistochemical investigation of no rmal Vervet monkey pancreas (n = 4) and 14 days (n = 2) and 56 days (n = 1) after cellophane wrapping of the Vervet monkey pancreas revealed a slight increase in proliferation of islet and acinar cells and a la rger increase in proliferation of duct cells and in total endocrine ce ll volume. The results su est that there is a latent developmental cap ability in the adult primate pancreas.