Lin, I had been in touch late last year and early this year with a
researcher into human insulinoma and there are pieces of research
looking increasingly at the pancreatic ductal cells that appear to be
precursors of beta cells, and once more is known then if that holds
true, finding more about what can cause misbehavior of those cells may
give the kind of answers you seek.
There is also research which has appeared in PLoS (if I recall right),
several years ago, which indicates that beta cells in the pancreas are
created in waves which may explain why they so often appear as multiple
pinpoints scattered simultaneously in the pancreas.
I think the FML and FHL archives MIGHT both have info on which studies
were involved but lack time to check. Life has recently been very
demanding for us so I take a few minutes here or there as possible.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/http://ferrethealth.org/archive/http://www.miamiferret.org/http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/http://www.ferretcongress.org/http://www.trifl.org/index.shtmlhttp://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump
off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall)
[Posted in FML 7275]
