Figure 2 | Scientific Reports

Figure 2

From: Developmental programming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): prenatal androgens establish pancreatic islet α/β cell ratio and subsequent insulin secretion

Figure 2

Prenatal androgen excess and altered pancreatic structure in postnatal offspring underpins increased insulin secretion.

Representative immunohistochemistry images from 11 month old control and direct TP treated female offspring (panel A). Top panels show pancreatic tissue stained for glucagon indicating alpha cells. The middle two panels show beta cells after immunostaining for insulin. The lower two panels show immunofluorescence of alpha cells (red) and beta cells (green) demonstrating beta cell dominance in islets from in utero TP treated offspring as compared to control offspring pancreas tissue at 11 months postnatal age. Scale bars = 50 μm. No effects of prenatal treatment occurred as regards alpha cells (Panel B), but beta cell counts were significantly elevated as compared to control animals (Panel C). This depressed the alpha:beta cell ratio in TP treated female fetuses (D). There was a significant correlation (P = 0.03) between the amounts of insulin secreted over a thirty minute GTT (see Fig. 1) and the number of beta cells quantified (E). (***P < 0.001). Data represents mean ± s.e.m.

Back to article page