Changing distribution of islets in the developing human pancreas: A computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction study

Citation
T. Watanabe et al., Changing distribution of islets in the developing human pancreas: A computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction study, PANCREAS, 18(4), 1999, pp. 349-354
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
da verificare
Journal title
PANCREAS
ISSN journal
08853177 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
349 - 354
Database
ISI
SICI code
0885-3177(199905)18:4<349:CDOIIT>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Tissue specimens of nine normal human pancreata from fetuses, neonates, and adults were subjected to serial sectioning and computer-assisted three-dim ensional (3-D) reconstruction in an effort to study the growth of Langerhan s' islets based on their distribution in the lobule and their relationship with the ducts and arterioles. Also, islet volumes were obtained by 3-D mor phometry. In 24-week-old fetuses, the islets were shown to be in direct con tact with the ducts, whereas in the neonates, they gradually became separat ed from the ducts, finally dispersing throughout the lobule in the adults. This transition seemed to allow islet hormones to have physiological effect s on the exocrine function of the acinar tissue, making the pancreas achiev e the endocrine-exocrine correlation. However, half of the islets remained next to the ducts even in the adult pancreata. With regard to the relations hip between the islets and arterioles, "arteriolar" islets having an affere nt arteriole accounted for similar to 20% in number, but their volume cumul ated to similar to 70% of the total, comprising a greater part of the pancr eatic endocrine gland.