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Acinar-islet cells in the exocrine pancreas of the adult cat

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Abstract

Observations on a human pancreas in a case of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome led us to postulate that secretin is capable of inducing nesidioblastosis (neoformation of islets). In order to test this hypothesis, a group of adult cats was given Pansecrin (Squibb secretin); a control group received normal saline. Acinar-islet cells containing in some cases both zymogen and islet-type secretory granules as well as the endoplasmic reticulum of acinar cells were seen in pancreases of secretin-treated cats. The islet-type secretory granule seen in acinar-islet cells resembled those of alpha-type islet cells.

These data offer morphologic evidence to suggest that the hormone secretin is capable of inducing cellular transformation in its target organ, the pancreas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Department, Medical College of Virginia, 23219, Richmond, Va

    R. E. Brown MD & W. J. S. Still MD

Authors
  1. R. E. Brown MD
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  2. W. J. S. Still MD
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Additional information

The authors wish to thank Susan M. Dennison, AIMLT, Ray Freeman, and Dr. Mary Still for technical assistance. We are also indebted to Dr. John E. Beck and the Squibb Institute for Medical Research for the generous supply of Pansecrin.

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Brown, R.E., Still, W.J.S. Acinar-islet cells in the exocrine pancreas of the adult cat. Digest Dis Sci 15, 327–335 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02239287

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02239287

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