Abstract

HISTOMORPHOMETRICAL STUDY OF PREGNANCY INDUCED CHANGES IN THE ISLETS OF LANGERHANS

Alaa K. Al-Asadi*, May F. Al-Habib(PhD), Ula M. Al-awaz(FIBMS)

Abstract

Background: The pancreas is a mixed gland consist of both exocrine and endocrine tissues the exocrine consist of acini composed of multi acinar cells; while the endocrine part represented by islet of Langerhans, these tissues adapted during pregnancy due to nutritional demands and hormonal changes. Aims of the study: To assess the histomorphometrical changes induced by pregnancy in islets of Langerhans including size, number, shape & distribution. Materials and methods: Forty mice were divided into 2 groups; 20 adult mice in control group, 20 pregnant mice in the late pregnancy were sacrificed to extract the pancreas and prepared to blocking sectioning and staining with H&E stain for microscopic examination and Image J software were used for histomotphometrics. Result: The pancreatic tissue mass increased in both exocrine and endocrine parts with their cellularity and vascularity and a significant increasing in the islet size and their numbers with showing numerous newly formed islets and demarcating coalescence of adjacent islets. Discussion: The changes in pancreatic tissue during pregnancy is an adaptation changes due to hormonal and nutritional demands of the fetous. There was an increase in the total pancreatic mass and the total pancreatic islets due to increase in both β cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy during pregnancy. Conclusion: The pancreatic tissue changed during pregnancy like increase in islet number, size, cellularity and their vascularity with increasing in exocrine part.

Keywords: Pancreas, exocrine, endocrine, islet of Langerhans.