Electron microscopic study of intercalated duct cells in the chicken pancreatic islet and effects of tolbutamide administration

Intercalated duct cells are present in the alpha and beta islets of chicken. The intercalated duct cells adhere to each other via intercellular junctional complexes at the apical side, projecting many microvilli and a few cilia into the lumen. They also extend slender cytoplasmic processes between the islet endocrine cells. These intercalated cells appear to have a stellate form, and to wrap their cytoplasm around endocrine cells. Administration of tolbutamide led to increased electron density in the cytoplasm of intercalated duct cells. Lysosomes are present in these cells in various numbers and sizes and tend to increase with time after administration of tolbutamide. These observations suggested that the intercalated ducts not only pass through the islet, but also play a role in supplying islet cells.