Summary
Copper deficiency had a differential effect between tissues in the rat pancreas. There was marked loss and atrophy of acinar cells, in which both hypertrophied and degenerating mitochondria were present. Cytochrome oxidase activity in acini was greatly depleted while monoamine oxidase activity was enhanced. Atrophy of acinar cells was accompanied by extensive degeneration of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and by a failure of zymogen granule synthesis. These changes contrasted strongly with the appearance of non-acinar tissues, in which hypertrophy and degeneration of mitochondria were rarely observed. Islet tissue, pancreatic ducts and blood vessels showed no atrophic changes. Cytochrome oxidase activity in islet tissue, and in the epithelium of the main pancreatic ducts, appeared unaffected.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
De Almeida, A. L. &Grossman, M. I. (1952) Experimental production of pancreatitis with ethionine.Gastroenterology 20, 554–77.
Argent, B. E., Case, R. M., Smith, P. A. &Sunter, J. P. (1977) The effect of chronic administration ofd-penicillamine on the rat pancreas.Br. J. Pharmacol. 61, 120–1P.
Bruni, C. &Hegsted, D. M. (1970) Effects of choline-deficient diets on the rat hepatocyte. Electron-microscopic observations.Am. J. Path. 61, 413–36.
Burstone, M. S. (1961) Modifications of histochemical techniques for the demonstration of cytochrome oxidase.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9, 59–65.
Capaldi, R. A. (1977) The structure of mitochondrial membranes. InMammalian Cell Membranes, Vol. 2,The Diversity of Membranes (edited byJamieson, G. A. andRobinson, D. M.), pp. 142–44. London: Butterworths.
Carson, F. L., Martin, J. H. &Lynn, J. A. (1973) Formalin fixation for electron microscopy: a re-evaluation.Am. J. clin. Path. 59, 365–73.
Caspersson, T. O. (1950)Cell Growth and Cell Function. A Cytochemical Study. pp. 120–123. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., Inc.
Cordano, A., Baertl, J. M. &Graham, G. G. (1964) Copper deficiency in infancy.Pediatrics, Springfield 34, 324–36.
Cordano, A., Placko, R. P. &Graham, G. G. (1966) Hypocupremia and neutropenia in copper deficiency.Blood 28, 280–3.
Davies, N. T. &Reid, H. (1979) An evaluation of the phytate, zinc, copper, iron and manganese contents of, and Zn availability from, soya-based textured-vegetable-protein meatsubstitutes or meat-extenders.Br. J. Nutr. 41, 579–89.
Fedorko, M. E. (1968) Effect of chloroquine on morphology of leukocytes and pancreatic exocrine cells from the rat.Lab. Invest. 18, 27–37.
Fell, B. F. (1981) Pathological consequences of copper deficiency and cobalt deficiency.Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. B 294, 153–69.
Finean, J. B. (1962) The nature and stability of the plasma membrane.Circulation 26, 1151–62.
Fölsch, U. R. &Creutzfeldt, W. (1976) Electrolyte secretion by a pancreatic duct model in the ratin vivo and accumulation of cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphatein vitro in response to gastrointestinal hormones. InStimulus-Secretion Coupling in the Gastrointestinal Tract (edited byCase, R. M. andGoebell, H.), pp. 381–384. Lancaster: MTP Press.
Fölsch, U. R. &Creutzfeldt, W. (1977) Pancreatic duct cells in rats: secretory studies in response to secretion, cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, and gastrinin vivo.Gastroenterology 73, 1053–9.
Gallagher, C. H., Judah, J. D. &Rees, K. R. (1956a) The biochemistry of copper deficiency. I. Enzymological disturbances, blood chemistry and excretion of amino acids.Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. B 145, 134–50.
Gallagher, C. H., Judah, J. D. &Rees, K. R. (1956b) The biochemistry of copper deficiency. II. Synthetic processes.Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. B 145, 195–205.
Gallagher, C. H. &Reeve, V. E. (1971a) Copper deficiency in the rat. Effect on synthesis of phospholipids.Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci. 49, 21–31.
Gallagher, C. H. &Reeve, V. E. (1971a) Copper deficiency in the rat. Effect on synthesis of nucleotide metabolism.Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci. 49, 445–51.
Ghadially, F. N. (1975)Ultrastructural Pathology of the Cell. pp. 283–289. London: Butterworths.
Glenner, G. G., Burtner, H. J. &Brown, G. W., Jr (1957) The histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase activity by tetrazolium salts.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 5, 591–600.
Hokin, M. R. (1974) Breakdown of phosphatidylinositol in the pancreas in response to pancreozymin and acetylcholine. InSecretory Mechanisms of Exocrine Glands, Alfred Benzon Symposium VII (edited byThorn, N. A. andPetersen, O. H.), pp. 101–112. Copenhagen: Munksgaard.
Hokin, L. E. &Hokin, M. R. (1965) Changes in phospholipid metabolism on stimulation of protein secretion in pancreas slices.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 13, 113–6.
Hruban, Z., Slesers, A. &Hopkins, E. (1972) Drug-induced and naturally occurring myeloid bodies.Lab. Invest. 27, 62–70.
Hruban, Z., Swift, H. &Slesers, A. (1965) Effect of azaserine on the fine structure of the liver and pancreatic acinar cells.Cancer Res. 25, 708–23.
Hruban, Z., Swift, H. &Slesers, A. (1965) Effect of triparanol and diethanolamine on the fine structure of hepatocytes and pancreatic acinar cells.Lab. Invest. 14, 1652–72.
Jamieson, J. D. (1978) Processing of exportable proteins: structure-function correlates and role of cellular membranes. InPhysiology of Membrane Disorders (edited byAndreoli, T. E., Hoffman, J. F. andFanestil, D. D.), pp. 447–458. New York, London: Plenum Medical Book Co.
Jamieson, J. D. &Palade, G. E. (1968) Intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the pancreatic exocrine cells. IV. Metabolic requirements.J. Cell Biol. 39, 589–603.
Kelly, W. A., Kesterson, J. W. &Carlton, W. W. (1974) Myocardial lesions in the offspring of female rats fed a copper deficient diet.Exp. molec. Pathol. 20, 40–56.
Kramsch, D., Beck, V. &Oehlert, W. (1963) Einfluss der Äthioninvergiftung und des Nahrungsentzuges auf die DNS-Neubildung in den Wechselgeweben und parenhymatösen Organen der Ratte.Beitr. path. Anat. 128, 416–44.
Lahey, M. E., Gubler, C. J., Chase, M. S., Cartwright, G. E. &Wintrobe, M. M. (1952) Studies on copper metabolism. II. Hematologic manifestations of copper deficiency in swine.Blood 7, 1053–74.
Mason, K. E. (1979) A conspectus of research on copper metabolism and requirements of man.J. Nutr. 109, 1981–2066.
Müller, H. B. (1970) Der Einfluss kupferarmer Kost auf das PankreasVirchows Arch. path. Anat. Physiol. 350, 353–67.
Novikoff, A. B., Mori, M., Quintana, N. &Yam, A. (1977) Studies of the secretory process in the mammalian exocrine pancreas. I. The condensing vacuoles.J. Cell Biol. 75, 148–65.
Palade, G. (1975) Intracellular aspects of the process of protein synthesis.Science, N. Y. 189, 347–58.
Platt, B. S., Heard, C. R. C. &Stewart R. J. C. (1964) Experimental protein-calorie deficiency. InMammalian Protein Metabolism, Vol. II. (edited byMunro, H. N. andAllison, J. B.), pp. 445–521. New York: Academic Press.
Roth, J., Bendayan, M., Carlemalm, E., Villiger, W. &Garavito, M. (1981) Enhancement of structural preservation and immunocytochemical staining in low temperature embedded pancreatic tissue.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 663–71.
Rothman, S. S. (1975) Protein transport by the pancreas.Science, N.Y. 190, 745–53.
Siefert, G. &Gieseking, R. (1961) Elektronenmikroskopische Befunde am Rattenpankreas nach experimenteller Athioninschädung.Beitr. path. Anat. 124, 81–107.
Smith, P. A., Charlton, M., Argent, B. E. &Case, R. M. (1979) Physiological and biochemical studies on pancreatic ductal tissue.Dan. med. Bull. 26, Suppl. 1, 2.
Smith, G. S. &Reid, R. A. (1978) The influence of respiratory state on monoamine oxidase activity in rat liver mitochondria.Biochem. J. 176, 1011–4.
Smith, P. A., Sunter, J. P. & Case, R. M. (1982) Progressive atrophy of pancreatic acinar tissue in rats fed a copper-deficient diet supplemented withd-penicillamine or triethylene tetramine: morphological and physiological studies.Digestion (in press).
Trump, B. F., Jesudason, M. L. &Jones, R. T. (1978) Ultrastructural features of diseased cells. InDiagnostic Electron Microscopy, Vol. I. (edited byTrump, B. F. andJones, R. T.), New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Underwood, E. J. (1977)Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. 4th edn, pp. 56–108. New York: Academic Press.
Wachstein, M. &Meisel, E. (1953) Cellular changes accompanying the degenerative and regenerative phase of ethionine-induced pancreatic damage in the rat.Lab. Invest. 2, 253–60.
Walters, M. N.-I. (1966) Adipose atrophy of the exocrine pancreas.J. Path. Bact. 92, 547–57.
Williams, R. B. &Mills, C. F. (1970) The experimental production of zinc deficiency in the rat.Br. J. Nutr. 24, 989–1003.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fell, B.F., King, T.P. & Davies, N.T. Pancreatic atrophy in copper-deficient rats: Histochemical and ultrastructural evidence of a selective effect on acinar cells. Histochem J 14, 665–680 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011899
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011899