REINNERVATION OF THE ENDOCRINE PANCREAS AFTER AUTO-TRANSPLANTATION OF PANCREATIC FRAGMENTS IN THE SPLEEN OF THE DOG - A MORPHOFUNCTIONAL STUDY

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1985

Authors

MADUREIRA, MLC (Author) Other; ADOLFO, A (Author) Other; DIAS, J (Author) Other; SEBE, M (Author) Other; CARVALHAIS, HA (Author) Other; von Hafe P (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: World Journal of Surgery

Vol. 9

Pages: 335-347

ISSN: 0364-2313

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 25 Citations

Scopus - 15 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-WMB

DOI: 10.1007/bf01656330

Abstract (EN): Secondary diabetes following pancreatectomy in the dog was prevented by autotransplantation of pancreatic fragments in the spleen. The function and composition of the endocrine elements were analyzed by functional studies and by light and electron microscopy at 4, 8, and 24 weeks. During these different periods, splenectomy proved that all the animals were dependent on the transplanted tissue for normoglycemia. The morphologic study of the spleen showed the survival of the intrinsic pancreatic ganglia as well as the presence of an amyelinic, terminal nervous network, with adrenergic varicosities, exclusively related to the endocrine elements. Nerve endings were identified in close contact with beta, alpha-2, and alpha-1 cells, either isolated in the splenic pulp or forming insular structures with a variable size and composition. No cholinergic varicosities could be identified nor was there any innervation in the ductal and acinar tissue. From 4 weeks on, Schwann cells could be seen coating large surfaces of the endocrine cells at the same time as they sheathed nervous elements, thus creating true "neuroinsular complexes" with beta and alpha-2 cells. The few ganglia that could only be identified under light microscopy, as well as the ultrastructural characteristics of the innervation, suggest that the sympathetic fibers of the perivascular, trabecular and capsular plexus of the spleen had grown and invaded the inoculated endocrine tissue in the splenic pulp. © 1985 Société Internationale de Chirurgie.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13