CYTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREATIC CELLS WITH REGARD TO THEIR POSITION IN RELATION TO THE ISLETS OF LANGERHANS

Abstract

The exocrine pancreatic cells in mice were studied with regard to their position in relation to the islets of Langerhans. In the cells situated close to the islets, higher values were noted for both nuclear size,nucleolar volume and number of nucleoli per nucleus, while the concentration of nuclei per unit area was lower in this region than further away from the islets. The results suggest that the juxtainsular exocrine cells have an increased functional activity, which is responsible for the halo phenomenon around the islets. Signs of very highly increased cell function in the juxtainsular exocrine cells were found in a mouse strain with an excessive insulin secretion from the islets of Langerhans. This supports the view that the regional differences, including the halo phenomenon, are due to local differences in the insulin concentration.