Fundamental cellular heterogeneity of the exocrine pancreas.

Abstract

Homogeneity in structure and function are broadly assumed to be characteristics of the acinar pancreatic digestive enzyme-secreting tissue. In recent years, physiological studies have shown that the pancreas stores the digestive enzymes in heterogeneously composed pools and releases them from these pools in a cyclic and secretagoguec fashion. The cellular basis for pancreatic heterogeneity is unknown; classical light and electron microscopic preparations appear homogeneous. We applied a panel of biotinylated lectins to pancreatic tissue sections; acinar cell glycoconjugates were localized in situ with peroxidase and fluorescent techniques and lectin-gold complexes. The lectin-binding properties of both fasting rabbit and rat pancreas revealed extensive and specific heterogeneity of the acinar cell population. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated highly heterogeneous labeling of the zymogen granule contents of specific acinar cells with the lectins Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) and Erythrina cristagalli (ECA), which also showed preferential labeling of peri-insular acini. Other lectins also demonstrated heterogeneous binding to specific cellular regions. The striking acinar cell heterogeneity confirms earlier predictions, and may eventually prove to be the cellular basis for the secretion of different enzyme mixtures from heterogeneous sources within the pancreas.

Lysosomal Storage Disease Caused bySida carpinifoliaPoisoning in Goats

“…The adult exocrine acinar cells of mouse, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits expressed at a more or less high rate binding of DBA, PNA, Con A, UEA-I, RCA-I, and WGA 24 , 28 . The lectin binding properties revealed extensive and specific heterogeneity of acinar cell population; a population which appears homogeneous by classical light and electron microscopic preparations 20 . The partial staining obtained in the present study with UEA-I, PNA, RCA-I, SBA, and DBA is part of the lectin binding pattern of normal acinar cells in goats, as was corroborated by the lectin reactivity of control tissues.…”

The guinea pig as an animal model for Ipomoea carnea induced α-mannosidosis

“…The adult exocrine acinar cells of mouse, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits expressed at a more or less high rate of binding of PNA, Con-A, UEA-I, RCA-I, and WGA (Muresan et al, 1982). The lectin binding properties revealed extensive and specific heterogeneity of acinar cell population; a population which appears homogeneous by classical light and electron microscopic preparations (Jeraldo et al, 1996). The partial staining obtained in our study with UEA-I, RCA-I and SBA corresponds to the lectin binding pattern of normal acinar cells in goats; this was corroborated by the lectin reactivity of control guinea pigs.…”

Metabolic Patterning on a Chip: Towards in vitro Liver Zonation of Primary Rat and Human Hepatocytes

“…However, such gradual patterns of metabolic or other functional activity are not limited to the liver. From the dynamic heterogeneity observed in other mature tissues such as cancer, pancreas, and others 56 , 57 ; to the prominent role of morphogen gradients in developmental biology 2 towards the creation of such heterogeneity, the notion of gradients and variable patterning in tissues is deeply entrenched in living systems. The current MPOC platform and its future iterations including an expanded number of sections and a 3D tissue structure; and the broad framework of being able to actively enforce metabolic or gene patterns in a tissue can provide a systematic means to study such important physiological phenomena.…”