Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Human acute pancreatitis: a light and electron microscopic study

H J Aho, T J Nevalainen, V T Havia

    Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica. Section A, Pathology
    |September 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary

    Researchers examined pancreatic tissue samples from seven patients with severe, bleeding-related inflammation of the pancreas. By using high-resolution imaging, they identified specific cellular changes, including the breakdown of digestive enzyme storage units and the movement of proteins into surrounding tissue spaces. The study highlights how both digestive cells and fat cells die during this condition and describes the cellular repair processes involved.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    CB<sub>2</sub> receptor activation causes an ERK1/2-dependent inflammatory response in human RPE cells.

    Scientific reports·2017
    Same author

    Thermal suit in preventing unintentional intraoperative hypothermia during general anaesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

    Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica·2017
    Same author

    Comparison of Bispectral Index and Entropy values with electroencephalogram during surgical anaesthesia with sevoflurane.

    British journal of anaesthesia·2015
    Same author

    Effect of heat treatment of wood on the morphology, surface roughness and penetration of simulated and human blood.

    Bio-medical materials and engineering·2014
    Same author

    Surface modification of fiber reinforced polymer composites and their attachment to bone simulating material.

    Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine·2013
    Same author

    Can electromyographic arousal be detected visually on the Datex-Ohmeda S/5™ anesthesia monitor?

    Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica·2012

    Area of Science:

    • Pathology and diagnostic medicine
    • Cell biology of acute pancreatitis within gastroenterology

    Background:

    No prior work had fully resolved the precise cellular architecture of human pancreatic tissue during severe inflammatory episodes. That uncertainty drove researchers to investigate the structural changes occurring within the organ. It was already known that digestive enzymes can cause localized damage during these acute events. However, the specific breakdown patterns of cellular components remained poorly understood in human clinical cases. This gap motivated a detailed examination of tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing surgical resection. Prior research has shown that animal models often fail to replicate the full complexity of human disease progression. Investigators sought to bridge this divide by focusing on the microscopic features of human tissue. The resulting observations provide a clearer picture of how cellular structures collapse under extreme stress.

    Purpose Of The Study:

    The aim of this investigation was to characterize the histological and ultrastructural features of human pancreatic tissue affected by severe inflammation. Researchers sought to document the specific cellular changes occurring during acute haemorrhagic episodes. The study was motivated by the need to understand how digestive cells and fat cells interact during the disease process. By examining resected tissue, the authors intended to clarify the mechanisms behind autodigestive injury in humans. The team focused on identifying the fate of zymogen granules and the distribution of secretory proteins within the organ. They also aimed to describe the vascular and stromal responses occurring at the edges of necrotic regions. This work was designed to provide a detailed visual record of the damage observed in clinical cases. The investigation ultimately serves to map the structural progression of tissue death and subsequent repair.

    Keywords:
    pancreatic necrosiszymogen granuleshistologymyofibroblasts

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The researchers propose that acinar cells undergo necrosis while simultaneously losing their zymogen granules. This process is accompanied by the displacement of secretory proteins into the interstitial space, which differs from the normal intracellular containment of these digestive enzymes.

    Myofibroblasts are identified as the specific cell type involved in the healing process. These cells surround older areas of fat necrosis, suggesting a role in tissue repair following the initial autodigestive injury.

    The study requires electron microscopy to visualize the fine structure of fibrillar material. This technical necessity allows for the identification of degenerated organelles and intermediate filaments that are otherwise invisible under standard light microscopy.

    Intermediate filaments serve as a critical marker in severely damaged cells. The authors note that these structures often remain as the only identifiable components in cells that have otherwise undergone complete necrotic breakdown.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Methods:

    The review approach involved a detailed microscopic analysis of resected pancreatic tissue obtained from seven individuals. Investigators utilized both light and electron imaging techniques to capture high-resolution snapshots of cellular health. This dual-modality strategy allowed for the observation of both broad tissue architecture and minute subcellular details. The team focused their diagnostic efforts on identifying necrotic acini and the state of zymogen granules. Researchers systematically documented the presence of lipid droplets, autophagic vacuoles, and intermediate filaments within the samples. They also evaluated the condition of blood vessels and fat cells located at the margins of necrotic zones. This methodology ensured a comprehensive assessment of the structural degradation occurring within the inflamed organ. The systematic documentation provided the basis for comparing healthy and diseased cellular states.

    Main Results:

    Key findings from the literature reveal that acinar cells at the border of necrotic areas contain significant accumulations of lipid droplets and autophagic vacuoles. The researchers observed that zymogen granules within these cells show clear signs of degeneration. PAS-positive material, identified as secretory proteins, was found in dilated lumina and the surrounding interstitial spaces. Electron imaging confirmed that this displaced material possesses a distinct fibrillar structure. The team identified thrombosed vessels and red blood cell leakage specifically at the boundaries of parenchymal necrosis. In severely damaged acinar cells, bundles of intermediate filaments often remained as the only visible structural remnants. Furthermore, the quantity of lipid was notably reduced in damaged fat cells compared to healthy tissue. Older areas of fat necrosis were consistently surrounded by myofibroblasts, indicating an active cellular response to the injury.

    Conclusions:

    The authors propose that digestive cells and surrounding fat cells experience simultaneous death during severe pancreatic inflammation. This synthesis suggests that the breakdown of enzyme storage units occurs specifically at the boundaries between healthy and damaged tissue. The evidence indicates that secretory proteins are frequently displaced into the interstitial spaces rather than remaining contained. These findings imply that such protein leakage may contribute to the ongoing tissue injury observed in patients. The researchers suggest that specialized repair cells, known as myofibroblasts, play a role in managing the aftermath of autodigestive damage. This review of the literature highlights the complex interplay between cellular necrosis and subsequent healing responses. The study underscores the importance of understanding these structural shifts for future clinical assessments. These observations provide a framework for interpreting the microscopic damage seen in acute inflammatory conditions.

    The researchers observed a decrease in lipid content within damaged fat cells. This measurement contrasts with the presence of thrombosed vessels and extravasated erythrocytes, which characterize the vascular response at the border of necrotic zones.

    The authors propose that the displacement of secretory proteins into the interstitium is a key feature of the disease. This observation suggests that the loss of structural integrity in acinar lumina contributes to the autodigestive nature of the condition.