Pancreas morphology of the striped hyena (Hyena hyena)

The pancreas of a striped hyena (Hyena hyena) was examined by the naked eyes and light microscopy. The distribution of A, B, D and PP cells in the islets of Langerhans was investigated immunohistochemically. The pancreas, located in the mesoduodenum, consisted of three lobes. It was about 420 mm in total length, about 10-30 mm in width and about 10 mm in maximum thickness. The smallest lobe was caudally separated from two cranial lobes. This characteristic lobe was named as a caudal lobe. Two pancreatic and one accessory pancreatic ducts opened into the duodenum. The pancreatic acini, secretory ducts and endocrine islets were arranged as shown in other carnivores. A cells were located in the peripheral region of the islets, whereas B cells were equally distributed in the islets. Both D and PP cells were also discerned in the islets.