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Dynamic morphologic change and differentiation from fetal to mature pancreatic acinar cells in rats
Tomoko Inagaki1, Takuma Tajiri, Genshu Tate
1First Department of Pathology, Showa University School of Medicine, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. tmkooo@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Insights
Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PdX-1) expression changes during rat pancreatic acinar cell development. PdX-1 is linked to dynamic morphological shifts from fetal to mature cells shortly after birth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PdX-1) is implicated in pancreatic stem cell function.
- PdX-1 is thought to influence exocrine cell differentiation and proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate PdX-1-associated morphological changes in rat pancreatic acinar cells.
- Focus on the transition from late fetal to early neonatal periods.
Main Methods:
- Light and electron microscopy utilized.
- Immunohistochemistry for PdX-1 and MIB-5.
- Tissues from fetal and neonatal rats at various time points (22 dpc, 48h, 72h, 7 days post-birth).
Main Results:
- Fetal acinar cells showed abundant zymogen granules.
- Post-birth, cells exhibited smaller, less eosinophilic cytoplasm with increased PdX-1 and MIB-5 expression at 48 hours.
- Mature acinar cell morphology with distinct apical and basal regions and decreased PdX-1/MIB-5 expression observed by 7 days.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic PdX-1-associated morphological changes occur in pancreatic acinar cells.
- These changes are most prominent between 48 and 72 hours after birth, marking the transition to mature cells.
Background/Aims:
Because of the notion that pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PdX-1)-positive cells are pancreatic stem cells that contribute to the differentiation and proliferation of exocrine cells, we examined PdX-1-associated changes in the morphology of rat pancreatic acinar cells that occur between the late fetal and early neonatal periods.
Methods:
Light and electron microscopy and PdX-1 and MIB-5 immunohistochemistry were used to examine pancreatic tissues obtained from fetal rats 22 days postconception (dpc), from newborn rats 48 and 72 hours after natural birth, and from rats 7 days after natural birth.
Results:
At 22 dpc, the cytoplasm of the acinar cells was large and eosinophilic due to accumulation of dense and numerous zymogen granules. Zymogen granules, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and other organelles were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. At 48 hours, i.e., just after feeding, the cytoplasm appeared smaller, less eosinophilic, and vacuolated. Electron microscopic examination showed cleaved nuclei and fewer zymogen granules. Expression of both PdX-1 and MIB-5 was increased at 48 hours. At 72 hours, acinar cell cytoplasm was decreased in size. At 7 days, the acinar cells were larger, biphasic distribution of zymogen granules was seen on the eosinophilic apical side, and rough endoplasmic reticulum and other ergastoplasms were seen on the basophilic basal side, typical of mature pancreatic acinar cells. Expression of PdX-1 and MIB-5 was markedly decreased in acinar cells.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate dynamic PdX-1-associated morphologic change from fetal to mature pancreatic acinar cells between 48 and 72 hours after birth.
