The following figures are provided at a larger size and an enhanced contrast to better illustrate the very fine VMAT2-positive nerve fibers present within the islets shown in Figs. 1A and 3A and the absence of those fibers in the islets shown in Figs. 1B and 3B.
Glucagon and VMAT2 staining of an islet in the pancreas of a saline-treated (A) and a 6-OHDA-treated (B) Wistar rat. Islets were identified by glucagon staining around the rim of the islet (arrow 3). The number of VMAT2-positive fibers in both the islet (arrow 1) and exocrine pancreas (arrow 2) seems to be reduced in the animals that were treated with systemic 6-OHDA. 6-OHDA, 6-hydroxydopamine; VMAT2, vesicular monoamine transporter 2.
Glucagon and VMAT2 staining of an islet in the pancreas of a saline-treated (A) and a 6-OHDA-treated (B) Wistar rat. Islets were identified by glucagon staining around the rim of the islet (arrow 3). The number of VMAT2-positive fibers in both the islet (arrow 1) and exocrine pancreas (arrow 2) seems to be reduced in the animals that were treated with systemic 6-OHDA. 6-OHDA, 6-hydroxydopamine; VMAT2, vesicular monoamine transporter 2.
VMAT2 staining of an islet in the pancreas of an early DR (A) and an early diabetic BB (B) rat. Islet area is shown by a dashed oval. The number of VMAT2-positive fibers seem to be reduced in the islet (arrow 1) but not in the exocrine pancreas (arrow 2) of the early diabetic BB rat (B). Early diabetic BB rats had diabetes for 1–2 weeks. VMAT2, vesicular monoamine transporter 2.
VMAT2 staining of an islet in the pancreas of an early DR (A) and an early diabetic BB (B) rat. Islet area is shown by a dashed oval. The number of VMAT2-positive fibers seem to be reduced in the islet (arrow 1) but not in the exocrine pancreas (arrow 2) of the early diabetic BB rat (B). Early diabetic BB rats had diabetes for 1–2 weeks. VMAT2, vesicular monoamine transporter 2.
