MOVEMENT OF INTRAPANCREATIC CALCIUM IN DOGS WITH EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATIC LITHIASIS - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PROCESS OF PANCREATIC CALCULUS FORMATION

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.