Pancreas Flashcards
What cells produce glucagon?
Alpha cells of the pancreas
What cells produce insulin?
Beta cells of the pancreas
What cells produce somatostatin?
Delta cells of the pancreas
What is the region of the exocrine pancreas called?
Islets of langerhans
What species has Pacinian corpuscles?
Cats
Why is pathology of the pancreas so hard to diagnose postmortem?
The pancreas rapidly autolysis and it becomes hard to tell if its acute pancreatitis or early autolysis
Lesions of acute pancreatitis
Necrosis: acini and fat from free radicals and proteolytic enzymes
Hemorrhage
Inflammation: mainly neutrophils
Saponification: Ca deposits
Predisposing factors of pancreatitis
Chronic liver disease: bile reflux to pancreas
Diabetes mellitus
Drugs: corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, estrogens
Intestinal disease (triaditis)
Hyperlipidemia:
Lesions of Chronic Pancreatitis
Fibrosis > shrinkage
Poor regeneration of pancreas (nodular)
Atrophy and insufficiency can occur, but rare
Sequelae of pancreatitis
SIRS-systemic inflammatory response
-Thromboembolic disease
-DIC
-Pancreatic encephalopathy and neuropathy
-Arrhythmia
-Metabolic Acidosis
-Respiratory distress
-Pancreatic insufficiency
Pancreatic Zinc Toxicity
Pennies
Causes hemolysis: nucleated erythrocytes, heinz bodies, spherocytes
Zinc salts formed and distributed to organs including the pancreas
Pancreatic Insufficiency causes and signs
Causes: developmental defects
-acinar aplasia/hypoplasia (GSD)
-abnormal ducts
-atrophy: nutritional (Zn tox, Se, Cu deff.), inflammation
Signs: Diarrhea (fatty), Maldigestion, weight loss w/ appetite.
Exocrine pancreatic hypoplasia
Greatly diminished exocrine pancreas
Common in GSD and rough coated collies
Autosomal recessive trait
What is carcinomatosis?
Seeding of tumor cells through the abdomen or thorax
What is an insulinoma?
Tumor secreting insulin inducing hypoglycemia. Common in ferrets.
