We examined the pancreatic islet lesions in Japanese patients with Type II diabetes mellitus to determine if the damage was related to oxidative stress.

Morphometric analyses were performed on immunostained sections of the tail portion of the pancreas from 14 diabetic and 15 non-diabetic patients. Amyloid deposition and oxidative stress-induced tissue damage were evaluated by Congo-red staining and immunostaining. Resistance to oxidative stress was assessed from immunostaining results for Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD). Expression of (pro)insulin mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridisation.

The pancreas from diabetic patients had amyloid deposition in about 15 % of the islets, intensified reactions of 8-OHdG and HNE, as well as reduced expression of SOD. Islet volume density of beta cells and total beta-cell mass in the pancreas from diabetic patients were reduced by 22 % (p < 0.001) and 30 % (p < 0.05). Islet volume density and total mass of (pro)insulin mRNA-positive cells were similarly reduced in diabetic patients by 22 % (p < 0.001) and 39 % (p < 0.05), respectively. Islet volume density of A cells was increased by 20 % (p < 0.001) but total mass did not change. There were no changes in volume densities of islet, D and PP cells. Reduced beta-cell volume density correlated with increased positive staining of 8-OHdG.

Japanese Type II diabetic patients show a reduction of beta-cell mass and evidence of increased oxidative stress-related tissue damage that is correlated with the extent of the beta-cell lesions. [Diabetologia (2002) 45: 85–96]