Age-Related Changes in Pancreatic Islet Blood Vessels
Faculty Mentor Information
Lizbeth De la Cruz, Idaho State University
Additional Funding Sources
IDeA supports this project from the NIGMS-NIH (Grant #P20GM103408).
Presentation Date
7-2025
Abstract
Aging is a significant risk factor for developing type-2 diabetes. One mechanism contributing to this increased risk is the age-related impairment of insulin secretion by beta cells.
This research hypothesizes that age-related impairment of insulin secretion is associated with changes in the vascular system within pancreatic islets. Islets contain the insulin-secreting beta cells. According to this hypothesis, age-related changes in the vascular system can alter blood flow to pancreatic islets, thereby affecting glucose delivery and sensing by beta-cells, which may impair insulin secretion.
Using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we measured the diameter of vessels and vascular density within islets of both male and female mice across 4-5 months old for the young group, 10-11 months old for the middle group, and 18-22 months old for the old group.
In males, we observed a significant increase in vessel diameter in islets with age, with a greater increase in islets from older mice compared with those from younger and middle-aged mice. Interestingly, in females, a significant increase in vessel diameter was observed in islets from middle age onwards. Vascular density ratios for males showed a significant increase in old age, but not between the young and middle-aged groups. Females showed no significant changes in vascular density across any age group.
Future research aims to identify the cause of the changes observed here and to investigate the physiological impact that vessel changes in the insulin secretion.
Age-Related Changes in Pancreatic Islet Blood Vessels
Aging is a significant risk factor for developing type-2 diabetes. One mechanism contributing to this increased risk is the age-related impairment of insulin secretion by beta cells.
This research hypothesizes that age-related impairment of insulin secretion is associated with changes in the vascular system within pancreatic islets. Islets contain the insulin-secreting beta cells. According to this hypothesis, age-related changes in the vascular system can alter blood flow to pancreatic islets, thereby affecting glucose delivery and sensing by beta-cells, which may impair insulin secretion.
Using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we measured the diameter of vessels and vascular density within islets of both male and female mice across 4-5 months old for the young group, 10-11 months old for the middle group, and 18-22 months old for the old group.
In males, we observed a significant increase in vessel diameter in islets with age, with a greater increase in islets from older mice compared with those from younger and middle-aged mice. Interestingly, in females, a significant increase in vessel diameter was observed in islets from middle age onwards. Vascular density ratios for males showed a significant increase in old age, but not between the young and middle-aged groups. Females showed no significant changes in vascular density across any age group.
Future research aims to identify the cause of the changes observed here and to investigate the physiological impact that vessel changes in the insulin secretion.
Comments
IDeA supports this project from the NIGMS-NIH (Grant #P20GM103408).