Giant Mitochondria in Pancreatic Acinar Cells of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

This was a study of the microscopic, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and enzyme cytochemical features of giant eosinophilic granules encountered in pancreatic acinar cells of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Seven male F344 rats with diabetes induced by a single i.v. dose of alloxan were sacrificed after twenty-five weeks of treatment. Histologically, the pancreatic acini were diffusely atrophied, and the islets showed marked atrophy or had disappeared, and giant eosinophilic granules and small vacuoles were observed in almost all acinar cells. The eosinophilic granules showed negative reactions for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and acid phosphatase, as well as fat stains such as Nile blue, Oil red O, and Sudan III. Ultrastructurally, the giant eosinophilic granules were huge structures surrounded by a double membrane containing many irregular cristae. A large amount of small lipid droplets was also apparent in the basal area of the acinar cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of prohibitin, a kind of protein located in the mitochondrial inner membrane, was partially positive in the marginal area of some giant eosinophilic granules, but negative for the central area. The enzyme activity for succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), one of the mitochondrial enzymes, showed a localizing pattern similar to that of prohibitin. These findings confirmed that the giant eosinophilic granules in the exocrine pancreas of alloxan-induced diabetic rats were giant mitochondria.

Comparative study on the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells versus platelet rich plasma on the pancreas of adult male albino rats with streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus

“…These results are in agreement with Sano et al [52] who documented damage to βcells with decreased synthesis of amylase and release from the exocrine pancreas of diabetic rats, pointing to the close connection between the endocrine and exocrine sections of the pancreas of the vascular network. In addition, marked decrease in amylase enzyme have been documented in STZ-diabetic mouse pancreatic acinar cells [4].…”

Carnitine is necessary to maintain the phenotype and function of brown adipose tissue

“…In addition, electron-dense filaments and myelin-like structures in the mitochondrial matrix that indicate cell injury were occasionally detected in JVS mice. 35 L-carnitine administration maintained the shape of mitochondria, reflecting the function of the organelles. These data indicate that carnitine affects the phenotype of mitochondria in BAT.…”

Pancreatic Fat Accumulation, Fibrosis, and Acinar Cell Injury in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rat Fed a Chronic High-Fat Diet

“…However, the levels of serum MCP-1 and NEFAs in the FH group were lower than those observed in an animal model of acute pancreatitis41,42 and also in our study in the absence of acute pancreatitis histology. In relation to these observations, we assume that “chronic and low-grade inflammation” might occur in pancreatic tissue against a background of MS. Future studies seem warranted to clarify whether localized pancreatic inflammation, or a change in the energy and lipid metabolism of pancreatic acinar cells,29,43,44 might contribute to the marked reduction of fat accumulation in acinar cells we observed between 18 and 24 weeks.…”