title: Damage to pancreatic acinar cells and preservation of islets of Langerhans in a rat model of acute pancreatitis induced by Karwinskia humboldtiana (buckthorn).
abstract: Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) is a poisonous plant that grows in some regions of the American continent. Consuming large amounts of Kh fruit results in acute intoxication leading to respiratory failure, culminating in death within days. There is evidence of histological damage to the lungs, liver, and kidneys following accidental and experimental Kh intoxication. To date, the microscopic effect of Kh consumption on the pancreas has not been described. We examined the early effects of Kh fruit on pancreatic tissue at different stages of acute intoxication in the Wistar rat. We found progressive damage confined to the exocrine pancreas, starting with a reduction in the number of zymogen granules, loss of acinar architecture, the presence of autophagy-like vesicles, apoptosis and inflammatory infiltrate. The pancreatic pathology culminated in damaged acini characterized by necrosis and edema, with a complete loss of lobular architecture. Interestingly, the morphology of the islets of Langerhans was conserved throughout our evaluations. Taken together, our results indicate the damage induced by a high dose of Kh fruit in the Wistar rat is consistent with an early acute necrotizing pancreatitis that exclusively affects the exocrine pancreas. Therefore, this system might be useful as an animal model to study the treatment of pancreatic diseases. More importantly, as the islets of Langerhans were preserved, the active compounds of Kh fruit could be utilized for the treatment of acinar pancreatic cancer. Further studies might provide insight into the severity of acute Kh intoxication in humans and influence the design of treatments for pancreatic diseases and acinar pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carcano-Diaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Aracely
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro and Bioimage Unit, Center for Research and Development in Health Sciences (CIDICS), Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). Carlos Canseco and Gonzalitos, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Segoviano-Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico.
authors.forename: Maria de Jesus
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Loera-Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). Madero and E. Aguirre Pequeno, Mitras Centro and Bioimage Unit, Center for Research and Development in Health Sciences (CIDICS), Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). Carlos Canseco and Gonzalitos, Mitras Centro, Monterrey, Mexico. jaimgarc1970@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Juarez
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000473:pathology*; D031956:Karwinskia / Q000633:toxicity*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar