title: Whole-mount imaging demonstrates hypervascularity of the pancreatic ducts and other pancreatic structures.
abstract: Confocal microscopy in combination with commercial software is frequently used to generate three-dimensional images of tissue architecture. Here we report a novel, whole-mount imaging protocol technique that allows detailed three-dimensional imaging of adult pancreatic structures. This technique provides an improved appreciation of the anatomical detail of pancreatic structures and of the relationship between the pancreatic ducts and islets. In addition, imaging of the pancreatic ducts revealed a previously unappreciated high degree of hypervascularity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, One Children Hospital Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Gohary
authors.forename: Sidhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tulachan
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Branca
authors.forename: Sunder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sims-Lucas
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasadan
authors.forename: Chiyo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shiota
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Gittes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology