當胰小島受損時，其血管與神經網路的改變與重組，影響胰小島在糖尿病發病過程中的生理變化。然而，由於胰臟的不透明性，且胰小島位於胰臟的深處，這雙重的阻礙，使得光學顯微鏡在觀察胰小島血管與神經網路時受到限制。在另一方面，使用傳統切片機所獲得的二維光學顯微影像，只能將視野侷限在某一切面上，無法針對血管與神經網路的三維結構進行觀察。本實驗中我們使用三維影像技術，定性與定量分析神經組織之「膠質細胞網路」 (Schwann cell network)與「血管周細胞」 (pericytes) 在正常胰小島組織的型態，與其在糖尿病小鼠發病過程中的改變與重組。

在胰臟中，Schwann cells主要位於胰小島周邊，區隔內分泌與外分泌組織；pericytes則攀附於血管壁，並隨血管延伸。在中樞神經系統中，當腦與脊髓受損時，Schwann cells與pericytes同時啟動，形成glial scar控制受傷區域。但目前還不清楚在胰小島發炎時 -- 特別是在第1型糖尿病發病初期，當免疫系統開始破壞但未完全摧毀胰小島時 -- 是否有類似的細胞反應幫助胰小島賀爾蒙進入循環系統，維持生理機能運作。在本實驗中我們使用Schwann cells與pericytes的染色方法，並結合三維影像技術，觀察它們在胰小島發炎時於空間中的變化。我們並運用網路組織分析方法，進行第1型糖尿病小鼠模型，包括streptozotocin (STZ) 注射小鼠模型，與nonobese diabetic (NOD) 小鼠模型的胰臟組織影像分析。
從共軛焦顯微鏡的影像，我們觀察到正常小鼠中，膠質細胞網路會從蘭氏小島外圍往核心發展。施打STZ一周後的小鼠，蘭氏小島內微血管的周圍，膠質細胞會增生；同時血管周細胞的密度也會增加。NOD小鼠中，在早期與中期胰島炎，受損區域周圍以及微血管旁會有膠質細胞增生的情形；同時血管周細胞會聚集在受損區域中的喂養微動脈 (feeding arteriole) 上。
從蘭氏小島受損時，這些細胞的反應可以說明他們的可塑性，也說明當實驗性糖尿病對蘭氏小島造成損害時，膠質細胞與血管周細胞會對損傷進行立即性的補救。

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