Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pancreas cell changes in two young diabetic dogs
By Minkus, G et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·1997·Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ductuloendocrine cell proliferation in the pancreas of two young dogs with diabetes mellitus.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old Golden Retriever and a 2-month-old Labrador Retriever were diagnosed with diabetes, showing symptoms like increased thirst and urination. In both dogs, tests revealed changes in their pancreas, including a lack of insulin-producing cells and abnormal cell growth. The vets noted that these changes might be the body's way of trying to compensate for the diabetes. Unfortunately, the specific treatments for these young dogs were not detailed, but understanding these pancreatic changes can help guide future care.
People also search for: puppy diabetes treatment · Golden Retriever increased thirst · Labrador puppy urination issues
Abstract
Two cases of diabetes mellitus in juvenile dogs (a 3-4 month-old Golden Retriever and a 2-month-old Labrador Retriever) are described here in terms of their clinical, histologic, and immunohistologic findings. Only very few insulin-positive cells were demonstrated immunohistochemically in one dog. In the second dog, the alterations of the pancreas consisted of hydropic vacuolar degeneration of B cells in the islets of Langerhans. In both cases, hyperplasia of the vacuolated cells was prominent. These cells formed tubular structures and were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and proliferating cell antigen (MIB-1). Furthermore, within these vacuolated areas, some cells were positive to varying degrees for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Apoptotic cells could be seen in the exocrine pancreas, in vacuolated areas, and occasionally in the islets of both dogs. We interpret these alterations as ductuloendocrine cell proliferation, probably as an idiopathic compensatory response.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9066086/