Woerner ('38) has described, for the first time, deg 0 ciierative changes in the alpha cells of the island of Langcrlians, following continuous intravenous injection of dextrose in guinea pigs.
These changes occurred when moclerate aiuounts of sugar were injected and there was no resulting extensive hyperglycemia or glycosuria. However, these aiiirnals exhibited evidences of increased metabolic rate with extensive loss of weight aud there were coincident fatty changes in the mitochondria of t,he acinar cells of the pancreas.
It occurred to us on thc basis of these findings that there might be some relation between exliaustion of the alpha cells and increased fat metabolism under conditions of increased oxidation of sugar. In order to test this hypothesis it seemed desirable to obtain an extract of the alpha cells. Consequeiitly the following solubility studies were undertaken.
- The pancreases froin three guinea pigs, whose pancreatic ducts had bccii ligated for 3 weelis, were frozen in liquid isoperitaiie and dehydrated iii ~a c u o a t -40ยฐC. Pieces of this tissue were treated with twelve organic aiid ninc aqueous solrents and one piece TI-^ put directly into formol-Zenker for a control. The organic solvents used were: methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, iso-butyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, iso-propyl alcohol, iso-amyl alcohol, ally1 alcohol, ethylene dichloride, etliyleiie glycol, methyl cellosolve, and butyl cellosolvc.