Development of the human pancreas and its exocrine function

Abstract

The pancreas has both endocrine and exocrine function and plays an important role in digestion and glucose control. Understanding the development of the pancreas, grossly and microscopically, and the genetic factors regulating it provides further insight into clinical problems that arise when these processes fail. Animal models of development are known to have inherent issues when understanding human development. Therefore, in this review, we focus on human studies that have reported gross and microscopic development including acinar-, ductal-, and endocrine cells and the neural network. We review the genes and transcription factors involved in organ formation using data from animal models to bridge current understanding where necessary. We describe the development of exocrine function in the fetus and postnatally. A deeper review of the genes involved in pancreatic formation allows us to describe the development of the different groups (proteases, lipids, and amylase) of enzymes during fetal life and postnatally and describe the genetic defects. We discuss the constellation of gross anatomical, as well as microscopic defects that with genetic mutations lead to pancreatic insufficiency and disease states.

Major surgical conditions of childhood and their lifelong implications: comprehensive review

“…In PBM, the choledochal sphincter is located distal to the junction of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct forming an abnormally long common channel. As a result, digestive pancreatic enzymes may reflux freely into the bile ducts, resulting in inflammation, tissue destruction, dilation and cancer (the Babbitt hypothesis) 121 , 122 .…”

Pancreatic Insufficiency, Digestive Enzyme Supplementation, and Postnatal Growth in Preterm Babies

“…The first histological examinations of the pancreas describing maturational differences in pancreatic exocrine function between term and preterm babies date back to the 1940s [7]. The ontogeny of common pancreatic enzymes has been well described and summarised in a recent review by Mehta et al [8]. While enzyme activity is detectable in human foetal pancreatic tissue from before 20 weeks’ gestation, each enzyme appears and develops individually over time [9].…”

Особливості Обміну Білків, Ліпідів Та Вуглеводів У Передчасно Народжених Дітей: Аналіз Показників Та Патофізіологічні Механізми Порушень

“…Перетравлення до олігосахаридів потім доповнюється абсорбційним гідролізом до моносахаридів на межі епітеліальної щітки ферментами, які включають лактазу, сахаразу, мальтазу, ізомальтазу та глюкоамілазу. Сахараза, мальтаза та ізомальтаза повністю активні у ПНД, але активність лактази, що гідролізує лактозу на глюкозу та галактозу, є низькою [14]. Секреція панкреатичної амілази, яка відповідає за початковий гідроліз вуглеводів, у новонароджених обмежена і досягає достатнього рівня лише при досягненні дворічного віку [15].…”