Pancreatic fat accumulation, fibrosis, and acinar cell injury in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat fed a chronic high-fat diet.
OBJECTIVE
The histological alteration of the exocrine pancreas in obesity has not been clarified. In the present study, we investigated biochemical and histological changes in the exocrine pancreas of obese model rats.


METHODS
Zucker lean rats were fed a standard diet, and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats were divided into 2 groups fed a standard diet and a high-fat diet, respectively. These experimental groups were fed each of the diets from 6 weeks until 12, 18, 24 weeks of age. We performed blood biochemical assays and histological analysis of the pancreas.


RESULTS
In the ZDF rats fed a high-fat diet, the ratio of accumulated pancreatic fat area relative to exocrine gland area was increased significantly at 18 weeks of age in comparison with the other 2 groups (P < 0.05), and lipid droplets were observed in acinar cells. Subsequently, at 24 weeks of age in this group, pancreatic fibrosis and the serum exocrine pancreatic enzyme levels were increased significantly relative to the other 2 groups (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In ZDF rats fed a chronic high-fat diet, fat accumulates in pancreatic acinar cells, and this fatty change seems to be related to subsequent pancreatic fibrosis and acinar cell injury.
From the *Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata; and †Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Hospital, Nishinomiya, Japan.
Akiko
A
Matsuda
Naohiko
N
Makino
Tomohiro
T
Tozawa
Nakao
N
Shirahata
Teiichiro
T
Honda
Yushi
Y
Ikeda
Hideyuki
H
Sato
Miho
M
Ito
Yasuharu
Y
Kakizaki
Manabu
M
Akamatsu
Yoshiyuki
Y
Ueno
Sumio
S
Kawata
D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005223:Fats; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases