Pancreas Flashcards
what is the endocrine part of the pancreas?
Pancreatic islets (Islets of Langerhans)
what 2 cell types of interest are present in the pancreatic islets?
Beta cells
Alpha cells
What do beta pancreatic islet cells do?
release insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)
what do alpha pancreatic islet cells do?
release glucagon
what does insulin do?
released when there’s increased blood glucose
promotes uptake of glucose in blood into tissues where it’s used for E
promotes synthesis of muscle, liver, adipose tissue (anabolic metabolism)
what does glucagon do?
released when there’s decreased blood glucose
stimulates E release (glucose into blood from tissues)
increases glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis
what disorder of the endocrine pancreas do we have to know in relation to hypo function of the islets cells?
diabetes mellitus
what disorder of the endocrine pancreas do we have to know in relation to hyper function of the islet cells?
insulinoma
what is diabetes mellitus?
metabolic disorder that results from a reduction of insulin available for normal cell function
diabetes mellitus is common in what species?
dogs and cats
true or false: with diabetes mellitus, there are many causes, but they all share common metabolic, clinical, and pathologic features
true
insulin deficiency that results in diabetes mellitus can be ____ or ______
absolute or relative
what does an absolute insulin deficiency mean?
inadequate synthesis and release of insulin from beta cells (not enough insulin)
what does a relative insulin deficiency mean?
failure of target cells to respond (enough insulin, but not responding)
what is absolute insulin deficiency caused by?
islet specific disease
nonspecific destruction of the pancreas - chronic pancreatitis
what is relative insulin deficiency caused by?
obesity
insulin antagonism by other hormones/drugs (acromegaly or hyperadrenocorticism)
dogs get what type of diabetes mellitus? what about cats?
dogs: type 1 DM
cats: type 2 DM
type 1 diabetes mellitus has a _____ onset and is insulin _____
juvenile, dependent
what is type 1 diabetes mellitus?
severe absolute destruction of insulin caused by autoimmune destruction of beta cells
type 2 diabetes mellitus has a _____ onset and is insulin _____.
adult, non-insulin dependent
what is type 2 diabetes mellitus? what is it characterized by?
number of beta cells declines with time due to genetics or lifestyle (obesity)
characterized by islet amyloidosis
initially, there is insulin ____ in type 2 diabetes
resistance
type 1 DM is _____ DM, and type 2 DM is _____ DM.
type 1: absolute
type 2 : relative
true or false: diabetes mellitus is best diagnosed post-mortem
FALSE! diagnosis best made clinically, NOT post mortem
why is diabetes mellitus hard to diagnose post-mortem?
gross pancreatic lesions often absent (except for chronic pancreatitis)
extra pancreatic lesions are nonspecific
What is the principle post-mortem finding for extra-pancreatic diabetes mellitus lesions?
hepatic lipidosis
____ cataracts are seen in _____ with diabetes mellitus
bilateral, dogs
true or false: cats get cataracts when they get DM
false! only dogs
tell me some extra pancreatic lesions associated with diabetes mellitus please and thank you :)
dehydration
poor BCS
hepatic lipidosis
bilateral cataracts (dogs only)
secondary infections (ex. emphysematous cystitis)
chronic renal disease, retinal disease, gangrene, peripheral neuropathy (rare)
you get this pancreas from a dog with bilateral cataracts, poor BCS, and was dehydrated. what endocrine disease is high on your ddx?
diabetes mellitus (type 1 because it’s a dog)
What is an insulinoma?
beta cell neoplasm
what is the most common tumor of the pancreatic islets?
insulinoma
insulinomas are endocrinologically ____, which means??
active
excessive insulin production
what is the typical signalment/species for an insulinoma?
ferrets !!!!!
dogs
with insulinomas, dogs get ___ more commonly, and ferrets get ___ more commonly
dogs: carcinoma
ferret: adenoma
what are the clinical signs of a ferret/dog with an insulinoma? what are the C/S a consequence of?
consequence of hypoglycemia
weakness, ataxia, mental confusion, restlessness, seizures, coma, death
this is a pancreas from a ferret. what is the diagnosis?
insulinoma
