MOVEMENT OF INTRAPANCREATIC CALCIUM IN DOGS WITH EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATIC LITHIASIS - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PROCESS OF PANCREATIC CALCULUS FORMATION
Y. Kinami et al., MOVEMENT OF INTRAPANCREATIC CALCIUM IN DOGS WITH EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATIC LITHIASIS - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PROCESS OF PANCREATIC CALCULUS FORMATION, International journal of pancreatology, 13(3), 1993, pp. 221-229
This study was performed to clarify the movement of calcium in the pan
creas of dogs with chronic pancreatitis, using scanning and transmissi
on electron microscopes (SEM, TEM) equipped with X-ray elemental micro
analyzers. Eleven adult mongrel dogs underwent incomplete ligation of
the pancreatic duct. After the procedure, the levels of pancreatic enz
ymes in the serum did not change for 9 mo, but the endocrine function
was reduced gradually. Of all dogs, 5 revealed pancreatic sclerosis, a
nd 2 at 9 mo had calculi, 2-4 mm in size, in the small pancreatic duct
. SEM examination revealed the intralobular fibrosis and irregularity
of the pancreatic duct wall, and TEM examination demonstrated the amor
phous or crystalloid substances and secreted granules in the acinar lu
men or ductule. In elemental analysis spectra using SEM, a high calciu
m peak was seen in the pancreatic duct wall. In elemental analysis spe
ctra using TEM, a high calcium peak was observed in the amorphous or c
rystalloid substances, and a high ratio of Ca/K was seen in these subs
tances. Calcium was also detected in the secreted granules or microvil
li. These results suggest that there is a process of calculus formatio
n based on the congregation of the intraductular substances containing
a large quantity of calcium.