Three-dimensional structure of peripheral exocrine gland in rat pancreas: reconstruction using transmission electron microscopic examination of serial sections.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the 3-dimensional structure of the peripheral pancreatic exocrine gland.


METHODS
We observed serial sections of rat pancreatic tissue using a transmission electron microscope and traced the intercalated duct lumina, intra-acinar secretory canaliculi, intercalated duct cells or centroacinar cells, and basement membranes of acini onto a transparent sheet. These traced diagrams were reconstructed.


RESULTS
The intra-acinar secretory canaliculus had branches but no anastomosis. The intercellular secretory canaliculus was extended from the central lumen through the space between the lateral surfaces of the acinar cells to the acinar base. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic process of each centroacinar cell was extended along the central lumen and connected to an intercalated duct cell; thus, centroacinar cells with the same structure as intercalated duct cells were not isolated from the intercalated duct cells.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we elucidated the normal 3-dimensional structure of the peripheral pancreatic exocrine gland. To understand the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis, in the future we intend to examine the morphologic changes of pancreatic tissue during the onset and advancement of chronic pancreatitis using animal models.
Ashizawa
Nobuo
N
Department of Internal Medicine, Tamatsukuri Kousei-nenkin Hospital, Matsue, Japan. ashizawa.n@smn.enjoy.ne.jp
Sakai
Toshio
T
Yoneyama
Tsunao
T
Naora
Hiroyuki
H
Kinoshita
Yoshikazu
Y
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar