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The exocrine pancreas in patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

A morphometrical and ultrastructural study

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Summary

The exocrine pancreas has been studied morphometrically and ultrastructurally in 12 patients with insulin-producing tumors in comparison with control patients free from gastrointestinal or pancreatic diseases and with normal glucose homeostasis. Light microscopical examination and morphometrical data revealed that in the insulinoma-bearing patients acinar cells undergo a marked and significant decrease in zymogen granule content, together with a slight reduction in the mean cell area. Such changes were accompanied by ultrastructural features indicating increased production and exocytosis of zymogen granules. The findings concerning centroacinar/ductular cells are consistent with an increase in their number and mean cell area, and an enhancement of their functional activity. In synthesis, both the enzyme- and bicarbonate-secreting cells appear to be greatly stimulated in conditions of chronic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia owing to the presence of insulmomas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Section of Histology, University of Florence, Vle G. Pieraccini, 6, 1-50139, Florence, Italy

    Daniele Bani, Leonardo Magnani & Tatiana Bani Sacchi

  2. Department of Physiopathology, Section of Surgery, University of Florence, Vle G. Pieraccini, 6, 1-50139, Florence, Italy

    Giancarlo Biliotti

Authors
  1. Daniele Bani
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  2. Leonardo Magnani
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  3. Tatiana Bani Sacchi
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  4. Giancarlo Biliotti
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Bani, D., Magnani, L., Sacchi, T.B. et al. The exocrine pancreas in patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Int J Pancreatol 5, 239–248 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02924469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02924469

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