Relationship between fractional pancreatic beta cell area and fasting plasma glucose concentration in monkeys

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We sought to establish the relationship between fasting plasma glucose concentrations and pancreatic fractional beta cell area in adult cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). METHODS: Fasting plasma glucose and pancreatic fractional beta cell area were measured in 18 control and 17 streptozotocin-treated adult primates (17.0 +/- 1.2 vs 15.4 +/- 1.2 years old). RESULTS: Fasting plasma glucose was increased (12.0 +/- 2.0 vs 3.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, p < 0.01) and fractional beta cell area was decreased (0.62 +/- 0.13% vs 2.49 +/- 0.35%, p < 0.01) in streptozotocin-treated monkeys. The relationship between fasting plasma glucose and pancreatic fractional beta cell area was described by a wide range of beta cell areas in controls. In streptozotocin-treated monkeys there was an inflection of fasting blood glucose at approximately 50% of the mean beta cell area in controls with a steep increase in blood glucose for each further decrement in beta cell area. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In adult non-human primates a decrement in fractional beta cell area of approximately 50% or more leads to loss of glycaemic control.