We examined the effect of troglitazone treatment on pancreatic growth in th
e CCK-A receptor-deficient Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rat, a
n animal model for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A troglitazone-rich diet (0.2%
) was given from 12 to 28 wk of age or from 12 or 28 wk of age to 72 wk of
age. Fasting serum glucose concentrations in control OLETF rats increased p
rogressively with age, which was almost completely prevented by troglitazon
e treatment. Insulin levels in serum and pancreatic content in the control
rat markedly increased at 28 wk of age but significantly decreased at 72 wk
of age compared with those at 12 wk of age, whereas those in troglitazone-
treated rats were nearly the same at all ages and were similar to those in
control rats at 12 wk of age. Pancreatic wet weight in control rats decreas
ed with age irrespective of whether they were hyperinsulinemic (28 wk old)
or hypoinsulinemic (72 wk old). Troglitazone treatment significantly increa
sed pancreatic wet weight and protein, DNA, and enzyme contents compared wi
th those in the control rats. Moreover, troglitazone treatment completely p
revented or reversed histological alterations such as fibrosis, fatty repla
cement, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Our results indicate that trogl
itazone stimulates pancreatic growth in the congenitally CCK-A receptor-def
icient OLETF rat not only by reducing insulin resistance and potentiating i
nsulin action but also by suppressing inflammatory changes in the pancreas.