Endocrine Part Research Articles

Localisation of S100 Protein and Acetylated Tubulin in Sheep Pancreas

Abstract The pancreas plays a critical role in the control of nutritional homeostasis. It consists of two major parts, the exocrine pancreas, and the endocrine pancreas. In the present study S100 protein and acetylated α-tubulin were used to identify positive structures in both the exocrine and endocrine part of the ovine pancreas. In the exocrine part of the pancreas, a positive reaction to S100 protein was confined to centroacinar cells, intercalated, and intralobular ducts cells. In addition, the S100 protein was localized in the Schwann cells of nerve fibres. On the pancreatic islets, the S100 protein has been observed in Schwann cells of nerve axons, where they form a fine envelope that invests the islet surface. Inside the pancreatic islets, the Schwann cells positive for S100 protein envelope the endocrine cells of the islets. The difference in positivity of the S100 protein was found in relation to the endocrine cells. The relationship between endocrine cell positivity and positive exocrine duct cells was discussed. Acetylated α-tubulin (AT) was restricted to axons of the nerve fibres and was located within the connective tissue accompanying intralobular and inter-lobular ducts, and between secretory acini in close contact with secretory cells.

Effect of Energy Drink on the Pancreas of Adult Male Albino Rat and the Possible Protective Role of Avocado Oil. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Introduction: Energy drinks are widely used among youth as boosters to increase their concentration. Many Health disorders associated with energy drinks have been reported. Avocado oil is a natural oil extracted from avocado fruit and possess an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Aim of the work: This work was conducted to investigate the effect of energy drink on the histological structure of the pancreas of adult male albino rat and to evaluate the possible protective role of avocado oil.Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control group, avocado oil-treated group (0.4 mg/100 gm body weight), energy drink-treated group (1.5 mg/100 gm body weight) and both avocado oil and energy drink treated group. All animals were orally administrated once daily for 4 weeks. Pancreatic specimens were processed for light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical study was performed using insulin and caspase-3 antibodies. Results: Energy drink-treated group revealed focal disturbed architecture of the exocrine and endocrine parts of pancreas. The exocrine pancreas appeared with cytoplasmic vacuolations and deeply stained nuclei of the acinar cells in addition to congested blood vessels. Ultrastructural examination revealed both acinar and islet cells with cytoplasmic vacuolations, swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum in addition to shrunken condensed nuclei with dilated perinuclear cisternae. The immunohistochemical study showed a significant decrease in the insulin immunoreaction of β cells associated with a significant increase in caspase-3 immunoreaction in acinar and islet cells. In contrast, minimal changes were observed in rats treated concomitantly with avocado oil and energy drink with a non-significant change in the immunohistochemical reaction. Conclusion: Energy drink induced structural changes in the pancreas of rats and the concomitant intake of avocado oil could to some extent ameliorate such changes

Morphological differences in the pancreas of normo- and hypertensive rats after joint exposure of intermittent hypoxia and melatonin

The morphological changes in the pancreas of normo- and hypertensive rats after combined exposure to intermittent normobaric hypoxia and melatonin were studied. The study was conducted in the autumn on 24 normotensive (Wistar line) and 24 spontaneously hypertensive (SHR line) male rats. Experimental rats were daily exposed to hypoxic gas mixture in special sealed chamber. Hypoxic gas mixture (12 % oxygen in nitrogen) was supplied into this chamber from the membrane gas separator element in the intermittent mode: 15 min deoxygenation/ 15 min reoxygenation for 2 h. Exogenous melatonin was orally administered to experimental animals at 10 h in the morning at a dose of 5 mg / kg once a day. The total duration of the experiment was 28 d. Histological preparations of pancreatic tissue were prepared according to the standard methods. The morphometry of the preparations digital images was performed using the computer program ImageJ. The nature and severity of morphological changes in the pancreas of the experimental spontaneously hypertensive rats (hyperplasia of the nucleolus in the nucleus of exocrinocytes, a decrease in the amount of connective tissue) suggests that the combined effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia and melatonin increases the activity of the exocrine part of the pancreas. At the same time, the activity of the endocrine part of the pancreas decreases, as evidenced by a decrease in the linear dimensions and area of the Langerhans islets, as well as the number of endocrinocytes contained in them. In Wistar rats, the combined effect of intermittent hypoxia and melatonin leads to the appearance of morphological signs of increased activity of both exocrine and endocrine pancreas functions. Thus, after prolonged combined exposure to intermittent normobaric hypoxia and melatonin, morphological signs of increased exocrine pancreas activity appear in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. At the same time, the activity of the endocrine function of the pancreas in experimental Wistar rats increases, while in SHR rats, on the contrary, decreases.

Clinical and morphological differential diagnosis of congenital hyperinsulinism before the stage of immunohistochemical study of paraffin-embedded specimens of pancreas in children

Introduction.Differential diagnosis of various forms of congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is required at the stage of urgent histological examination, but the difference between the exo- and endocrine parts of the pancreas in frozen sections is visualized very poorly.The objective was to search for differential diagnostic criteria of focal and diffuse forms of CH, suitable for urgent histological examination.Methods and materials. Pancreatic surgery material from 25 children with CH, of which 15 cases of focal form (FCH) and 10 cases of diffuse (DСH), and autopsy material from 10 children without CH (K). Frozen and paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and histochemical stains were made from the tissue of the pancreas. The number of endocrinocytes with large nuclei was estimated in 10 fields of view for each case.Results. The average proportion of endocrinocytes with large nuclei was significantly (p <0.01) higher compared to the control both with FCH (in the affected area) and DCH (FCH – (1.82±0.50) %, DCH – (4.68±1.66) %, K – (0.34±0.21) %). We found a tendency to detect a higher absolute number of cells with large nuclei in DCH ((4.95±1.24) DCH and (3.71±1.56) FCH). Staining with azure-eosin, picro Mallory and the PAS reaction gave unstable result, and staining with toluidine blue and May-Grunwald did not allow differentiating exo- and endocrine parts of the pancreas.Conclusion. An increase in the size of the endocrinocyte nuclei was the unsuitable criterion for the differential diagnosis of CH forms, and histochemical stains did not give a stable qualitative result. For urgent biopsy examination, new immunohistochemical methods are needed.

Molecular imaging of pancreatic neoplasms

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) derive from the exocrine pancreas and account for the majority of pancreatic tumors (95%). It is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths and shows one of the worst prognoses in oncology with a 5-year survival rate of 9%. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) derive from the endocrine part of the pancreas. Well-differentiated pNETs are characterized by slow tumor growth and good life expectancy. In all pancreatic tumor entities, imaging plays a key role. Hybrid imaging modalities (PET/CT and PET/MRI) combine functional and structural data and may reflect a more accurate assessment of disease spread which directs subsequent treatment planning and patient management. A comprehensive search strategy was used based on PubMed and SCOPUS databases from 1999 to date. FDG PET/CT in PDAC shows high sensitivity and specificity in evaluation of T- and M-staging but lesser sensitivity of N-staging. In restaging, metabolic changes occur earlier than morphological changes in tumor size and can be assessed by molecular imaging which can act as a predictor of prognosis. 68Ga-labeled somatostatin analogs (SSAs) are the gold standard in imaging of well-differentiated pNETs. In poorly differentiated pNETs, FDG is the radiotracer of choice. PET/MRI may have added value due to higher soft-tissue contrast. However, more prospective studies comparing PET/CT and PET/MRI systems are needed. FDG PET/CT plays a key role in PDAC in staging, restaging as well as disease monitoring during follow-up. Functional imaging with 68Ga-labeled SSA is the gold standard in imaging of well-differentiated pNETs.

Влияние SARS-CoV-2 на эндокринную систему

SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread worldwide and resulted in an unprecedented pandemic. Considering the novelty of this disease, its potential effects on the endocrine system remain elusive. This virus is known to utilize the extracellular domain of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and transmembrane protein TMPRSS2. Broad expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 is a potential cause of extrapulmonary manifestations of SARSCoV- 2, including endocrine ones. The most common presentations are direct or indirect damage of the endocrine part of the pancreas, hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axes, and possible long-term effects on the reproductive system. It was demonstrated that obesity and diabetes increase the risk of severe course and death in COVID-19. Similarly, patients with transitory hyperglycemia have a higher risk of severe disease course. Primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency of various origins potentially accounts for severity. The most common thyroid complications of the COVID-19 infection are euthyroid sick syndrome and transient destructive thyroiditis, including subacute thyroiditis. KEYWORDS: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, endocrinopathies, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency. FOR CITATION: Petunina N.A., Shkoda A.S., Telnova M.E. et al. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the endocrine system. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(9):575–578 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-9-575-578.

Sıçanlarda Bisfenol A’nın Neden Olduğu Pankreatik Değişimler Üzerine Koenzim Q10’un Etkileri

Amaç: Çalışmada bisfenol A (BPA)'ya maruz bırakılan sıçanların pankreasındaki değişikliklerin belirlenmesi ve bu değişiklikler üzerine koenzim Q10 (KoQ10)'un etkilerinin ortaya çıkarılması amaçlandı.Materyal ve metod: Sıçanlar kontrol, sham, KoQ10, BPA ve KoQ10+BPA olmak üzere rastgele beş gruba ayrıldı. KoQ10 ve BPA uygulamaları on dört gün boyunca devam etti. Histopatolojik ve histomorfolojik incelemeler için pankreas kesitlerine Crossmon’un üçlü boyama yöntemi uygulandı. Ayrıca pankreas dokusunda immünohistokimyasal olarak östrojen reseptör α (ERα) immünoreaktivitesi incelendi.Bulgular: Pankreasın endokrin bölümündeki histopatolojik değişiklikler ile pankreatik beta hücrelerindeki ERα immünoreaktivitesinin kontrol grubuna göre BPA grubunda anlamlı bir şekilde arttığı tespit edildi. Ancak histomorfolojik bulgular açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı. Diğer taraftan, çalışmada incelenen parametreler üzerinde KoQ10'un anlamlı bir etkisi gözlenmedi.Sonuç: BPA, pankreasta yapısal ve fonksiyonel bozukluklara neden olabilir. Ayrıca ERα immünoreaktivitesini de değiştirebilir. Bununla birlikte, KoQ10'un BPA'ya maruz kalan sıçanların pankreasındaki muhtemel koruyucu etkilerini ortaya çıkarmak için daha ileri çalışmalar gereklidir.

Pathomorphology of the atypical form of congenital hyperinsulinism on the example of three clinical cases

Background . Congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is characterized by persistent hypoglycemia, leading to irreversible damage to the cerebral cortex. The atypical form of CH (ACH) remains practically unexplored. Objective . Description of histological and immunohistochemical features of the pancreas in ACH. Design and methods . Material for research — fragments of the resected pancreas of 3 children with ACH aged 3, 6 and 7 months. Control group — pancreas of 9 children who died from heart malformations. Pancreatic tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, an immunohistochemical reaction was performed with antibodies to chromogranin A, somatostatin, and transcription factors (TF) NeuroD1, Nkx2.2, and Isl1. Results . In all patients, numerous hyperplastic islets of Langerhans were observed, which in places merged with each other. In two patients, the lesion was limited to the pancreas area, and in one it covered the entire gland. All patients showed a sharp increase (p < 0.01) in the expression of NeuroD1 both in the exocrine and endocrine parts of the pancreas in the affected area: in 79.0 ± 23.4 % of endocrinocytes and in 88.0 ± 8.2 % of exocrinocytes (in the control 10.5 ± 7.9 % and 4.0 ± 4.9 % respectively). The expression of chromogranin A and TF Isl1 and Nkx2.2 increased statistically significantly (p < 0.01) only in affected endocrinocytes (chromogranin A — 62.3 ± 15.4 % of endocrinocytes, Isl1 — 82.0 ± 4.6 %, Nkx2.2 — 81.3 ± 4.6 %; in the control — 39.4 ± 7.9 %, 30.2 ± 16.2 % and 26.4 ± 11.9 % respectively). In 2 patients, there was a tendency to an increase in the number of somatostatin + endocrinocytes. Conclusion . ACH is morphologically very heterogeneous. Like other forms of CH, ACH was characterized by a statistically significant increase in the expression of chromogranin A and TF NeuroD1, Nkx2.2, Isl1, while the expression of somatostatin in general remained unchanged.

Pathological Mechanisms in Diabetes of the Exocrine Pancreas: What's Known and What's to Know.

The clinical significance of diabetes arising in the setting of pancreatic disease (also known as diabetes of the exocrine pancreas, DEP) has drawn more attention in recent years. However, significant improvements still need to be made in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, and in the knowledge of the pathological mechanisms. The clinical course of DEP is different from type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DEP develops in patients with previous existing exocrine pancreatic disorders which damage both exocrine and endocrine parts of pancreas, and lead to pancreas exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and malnutrition. Therefore, damage in various exocrine and endocrine cell types participating in glucose metabolism regulation likely contribute to the development of DEP. Due to the limited amount of clinical and experimental studies, the pathological mechanism of DEP is poorly defined. In fact, it still not entirely clear whether DEP represents a distinct pathologic entity or is a form of T2DM arising when β cell failure is accelerated by pancreatic disease. In this review, we include findings from related studies in T1DM and T2DM to highlight potential pathological mechanisms involved in initiation and progression of DEP, and to provide directions for future research studies.

3D virtual histology of human pancreatic tissue by multiscale phase-contrast X-ray tomography.

A multiscale three-dimensional (3D) virtual histology approach is presented, based on two configurations of propagation phase-contrast X-ray tomography, which have been implemented in close proximity at the GINIX endstation at the beamline P10/PETRA III (DESY, Hamburg, Germany). This enables the 3D reconstruction of characteristic morphological features of human pancreatic normal and tumor tissue, as obtained from cancer surgery, first in the form of a large-scale overview by parallel-beam illumination, followed by a zoom into a region-of-interest based on zoom tomography using a Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror with additional waveguide optics. To this end 1 mm punch biopsies of the tissue were taken. In the parallel tomography, a volumetric throughput on the order of 0.01 mm3 s-1 was achieved, while maintaining the ability to segment isolated cells. With a continuous rotation during the scan, a total acquisition time of less than 2 min was required for a full tomographic scan. Using the combination of both setups, islets of Langerhans, a three-dimensional cluster of cells in the endocrine part of the pancreas, could be located. Cells in such an islet were segmented and visualized in 3D. Further, morphological alterations of tumorous tissue of the pancreas were characterized. To this end, the anisotropy parameter Ω, based on intensity gradients, was used in order to quantify the presence of collagen fibers within the entire biopsy specimen. This proof-of-concept experiment of the multiscale approach on human pancreatic tissue paves the way for future 3D virtual pathology.

The Histological Changes in Endocrine Part of the Pancreas of Diabetic Rats Treated with Rosa Damascena Extract

The Histological Changes in Endocrine Part of the Pancreas of Diabetic Rats Treated with Rosa Damascena Extract

2053-P: Integrated Blood Flow between Endocrine and Exocrine Pancreas Is Conserved among Multiple Species

Pancreatic islets compose the endocrine pancreas and are considered distinct from the exocrine pancreas in terms of both function and regulation of blood flow. Indeed, enzymatically isolated islets directly respond to glucose and other secretagogues in vitro. The islet has been regarded as an enclosed micro-organ, in which blood flows uni-directionally from an afferent arteriole to an efferent venule. This blood circulation pattern has been termed as “the insulo-acinar portal system.” Historically, the endocrine and exocrine pancreas have been studied separately by different fields of investigators. Using intravital analysis of pancreas blood flow in mice, we have recently reported that islet capillaries are continuously integrated with those in the exocrine pancreas, which makes the islet circulation open, not self-contained. Furthermore, by tracking fluorescently-labeled red blood cells revealed bi-directional blood flow between the endocrine and exocrine pancreas. In the present study, in order to verify whether this integrated vascular network is conserved among different species, we carried out three-dimensional morphological analysis of pancreatic capillary networks using thick pancreatic tissue slices (600-800 µm) in ferrets, rabbits, pigs, dogs and monkeys, besides mice and humans. We have confirmed that the integrated blood flow between endocrine and exocrine pancreas is conserved among multiple species that we studied. Here we propose that the open circulation model physically links both endocrine and exocrine parts of the pancreas as a single organ through the integrated vascular network. This new paradigm may provide revived or contrasting insights into the findings of past studies, as well as a novel approach for prospective research projects. Disclosure J.K. Butterfield: None. M. Hara: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (DK117192, DK020595)

The Biochemical and Histological Effect of Cadmium Chloride on the Pancreas of Adult Albino Rats and the Possible Protective Effect of Nigella Sativa Seeds

Aim: The current study evaluates the important role of Nigella Sativa against cadmium (Cd) induced toxic changes in pancreasof rats.Materials and Methods: Eighteen adult Wistar albino rats were divided into three equal groups. Control group, cadmiumtreated group that received 5 mg CdCl2/kg BW/day dissolved in water orally for three months, and cadmium with Nigellasativa (NS) group received a mixture of 1g/kg/day of aqueous suspension of Nigella sativa seeds powder and 5 mgCdCl2/kg BW/day dissolved in water for three consecutive months. Hormonal assay of insulin was done. Pancreatic tissueswere prepared for both Hematoxylin and Eosin and toluidine blue. Electron microscopic study of pancreatic tissues was alsodone.Results: The present study showed that the administration of CdCl2 induced evident decrease in insulin serum level. Thebiochemical results were confirmed by histological investigations where degenerative changes of pancreatic acini with lossof normal lobular architecture, distorted pancreatic acini, degenerated and widely separated cells in the islets of Langerhans,blood vessels congestion and aggregation of perivascular cellular infiltrates were detected in pancreatic tissues stained withH&E. Toluidine blue-stained sections showed few deeply stained apical zymogen granules in some acini, whereas other acinishowed absence of these granules.Administration of NS with CdCl2 showed a significant improvement in the measured serum insulin level and histologicalpictures.Conclusion: CdCl2 induced several toxic changes in the exocrine and endocrine parts of pancreas of rats. NS could protect thepancreas against these alterations.

Biochemical and Histopathological Studies on the Efficacy of Camel Milk and Urine against Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Camel urine has been extensively used for the treatment of diseases including cancer. However, it uses in the management of diabetes complication has not been explored.
 Aim: Present study aimed to access the effect of camel milk and urine on biochemical parameters and histopathological alterations of the liver in alloxan induced diabetic rats.
 Methodology: Twenty-five male albino rats were divided into five groups; group 1 served as the Nondiabetic (NDC), group 2 as Diabetic control (DC), group 3, 4 and 5 are animals treated with camel milk (DCM), camel urine (DCU) and metformin (DM) respectively. The treatment was for twenty-one days. The protective role of camel milk and urine was evaluated by determining biochemical parameters and also by studying the histopathological alterations of the liver.
 Results: The results indicate a significant increase (P<0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total protein (TP) in DC rats compared to NDC. However, nosignificant difference was observed in the serum level of alkaline phosphate (ALP) between NDC and DC groups (P <0.05). Treatments of diabetic rats with either camel milk, camel urine or metformin significantly (P <0.05) serum activities of AST, ALT and TP. The results of lipid profile show that pretreatment of diabetic rats with camel milk or urine significantly (P<0.05) decreases serum levels of triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared to diabetic control group compared to DC group. Moreover, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased remarkably in the groups treated with CM, CU and metformin respectively. Histopathological studies of the liver revealed that all the severe endocrine changes in the endocrine part and localized necrosis present in DC are absent in the Diabetic treated with camel milk (DCM), Diabetic treated with camel urine (DCU) and Diabetic treated with metforming (DM) groups.
 Conclusion: Treatment with camel milk or urine has the potential to delay the onset of diabetic complications.

Preventive effect of agomelatine in lipopolysaccharide-induced pancreatic pathology

The aim of this study was to examine pancreatic lesions and the possible prophylactic effects of agomelatine (AGO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in rats. Twenty-four female, 1-year-old Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: group I (control), group II (study group; 5 mg/kg LPS i.p., single dose), and group III (treatment group; LPS + AGO, single dose p.o., 20 mg/kg AGO + 5 mg/kg LPS, 30 minutes after AGO treatment). The rats were sacrificed six hours after LPS administration. At the necropsy, blood and pancreatic tissue samples were collected for biochemical, pathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. The results showed that LPS caused an increase in serum amylase and lipase levels and a decrease in glucose levels. Histopathological analysis revealed infiltration of numerous neutrophils in pancreatic interstitial tissue and in vessels. In addition, slight vacuoles indicating degenerative changes were observed in endocrine and exocrine pancreatic tissues. Increased caspase-8, haptoglobin (Hp), IL-4, and IL-10 and decreased SIRT-1 expression was observed in both endocrine and exocrine parts of the pancreas in the LPS group. AGO ameliorated the biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. The present study results revealed that LPS-induced pancreatic damage to both endocrine and exocrine cells. In contrast, AGO had ameliorative effects on both biochemical and pathological findings in rats.

МОРФОФУНКЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ СТАН ПІДШЛУНКОВОЇ ЗАЛОЗИ ЩУРІВ ПРИ ВВЕДЕННІ МЕЛАТОНІНУ ПІД ЧАС РОЗВИТКУ ОЖИРІННЯ: ХРОНОТЕРАПЕВТИЧНИЙ ПІДХІД

Overweight and obesity often cause some comorbidity like insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, cancer, cardio-vascular pathology etc. Pancreas is the important organ in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin signaling, that under obesity conditions undergo pathologic changes. For diminish adverse effects of obesity in the role of therapeutic agent is considered melatonin – pineal gland pleiotropic multifunctional molecule. In view of development precision medicine, which include processing personalized data of whole genome sequencing, microbiome, individual day/night regime etc., time selection of drug administration for maximize efficacy and minimize side effects to each patient in according of private organism circadian rhythm is the main goal of chronotherapy approach. The aim of our study was to determine morpho-functional state (morphology characteristic of exocrine and endocrine part; morphometric parameters: areas of pancreatic islets, acini and acinar cell nucleus) of pancreas in rats with high-calorie (high fat) diet-induced obesity after melatonin administration in determined time of the day (evening and morning). Melatonin was administered daily by gavage for 7 weeks in dose 30 mg/kg 1 h before lights-off (ZT11, evening) or 1 h after lights-on (ZT01, morning) rats with high-calorie diet (HCD). Rats with HCD had morbid changes in pancreas cells morphology of exocrine and endocrine part, which manifested in presence of macrophage and leukocyte infiltration of islets, vacuolization and lipid droplets in acinocytes cytoplasm, while areas of islets, acini and acinar cell nucleus decreased. Obese rats with melatonin administration demonstrate amelioration of HCD-associated changes in pancreas. Namely, in rats with development obesity melatonin administrations increased area of pancreatic islets in comparison to HCD group, moreover pancreas acini area reach control values. Also were observed difference between time-of-day interventions of melatonin on acinar cell nucleus area parameters: evening administration showed more strong action in increased to control level direction. Together, is suggesting about melatonin ameliorative role on morpho-functional state of pancreas exocrine and endocrine part under HCD-induced obesity conditions, additionally evening administration 1 h before light-off displayed more beneficial influence compared to morning.

Histomorphological changes in the rat pancreas after methionine administration

The effectiveness of using various methionine preparations for activating pancreatic function is ambiguous; the reasons may include differences in dosage and duration of methionine administration. The question remains, in what extent the methionine application is efficacious for increasing functional activity of a healthy pancreas. The aim of our study was to investigate morphological changes in pancreas after prolonged administration of methionine. The experiments were carried out on 24 males of Wistar rats at the age of 15 months. During 21 days, the experimental animals received methionine at a daily dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight in addition to the standard diet. Histological preparations were made from pancreatic tissue according to standard method. Morphometry was performed using the computer program «Image J». The rats were taken out of the experiment under ether anesthesia. The studies were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the "European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes" (Strasbourg, 1986). Upon completion of the experiment, histomorphological sings of an increase in functional activity were registered in both exocrine (enlarged acini’s areas and their epithelium height, higher nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of exocrinocytes, and higher number of nucleoli in cell nuclei) and endocrine (enlarged sizes of the Langerhans islets and increased number of endocrinocytes in the islets) parts of the rat pancreas. In the experimental rats, the relative area of ​​the connective tissue and the stromal-parenchyma index of the pancreas, as well as the width of the interlobular and interacinus layers of connective tissue decreased. A decrease in the mass of connective tissue in the pancreas can be considered as one of the signs of its function activation, an improvement in metabolism between acini, and an increase in regenerative capabilities. Thus, additional administration of prophylactic doses of methionine to healthy animals results in distinct morphological signs of increased pancreatic activity.

Morphofunctional changes in the digestive organs of pigs under the influence of soy processing product-okara

Okara obtained by processing soy grown in the Amur region contains twice as much raw and digestible protein as the product produced in the Western regions of our country. According to zootechnical analysis, it contains a mass fraction of crude protein of 29.58% and the amount of digested protein of 266.22 g. Its unnormalized use as a protein Supplement during intensive fattening of pigs causes fatty dystrophy of acinar cells and infiltrative growth of adipose and connective tissue, degenerative degeneration of the endocrine part of the glandular epithelium of the pancreas. Observed in liver cirrhotic transformation and protein-fatty degeneration of hepatocytes In 12-duodenum of piglets us were diagnosed with moderate diffuse chronic atrophic duodenitis, which manifests as thinning of the mucosa, flattening of surface epithelium, reducing the number of crypts and villi. The results of histological studies of the main digestive glands (pancreas and liver), as well as the small intestine allow us to conclude that soy Okara from Amur producers has a negative effect on the morpho-functional state of the digestive system, and as a result, a decrease in the digestibility and digestibility of nutritional components of the feed.

COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOME ORGANS IN TWO FISH SPECIES CYPRINUS CARPIO LINNAEUS, 1758 AND MESOPOTAMICHTHYS SHARPEYI (GÜNTHER, 1874)(CYPRINIFORMES, CYPRINIDAE)

The present study aims to give some details about the normal anatomical and histological structure of the liver, pancreas and gall bladder in Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 and Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Gunther, 1874). Anatomical results revealed that the liver of C. carpio is a reddish-brown in color, located in the anterior part of abdominal cavity and dispersed between most of the intestines, which is divided into two lobes; while in M. sharpeyi the liver is light brown in color located in the anterior part of abdominal cavity and extends to the end of the intestinal tract with two lobs. The gallbladder situated in the right side of the liver in both species. Histological results in both species showed that the liver consists of hepatocytes arranged radially around a central vein, separated by blood sinusoids, not divided into distinct hexagonal lobules, no portal traids as in higher vertebrates. The wall of gallbladder consist of three distinct layers: Tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa. Microscopic results showed that exocrine pancreatic tissue was diffused type in both species located in liver and consists of acini as hepatopancreas , however, pancreatic tissue diffused between the intestinal coiling in C. carpio, and in the internal surface of the liver in M. sharpeyi. Endocrine parts of pancreas were observed in few numbers of cell masses in various sizes among exocrine pancreatic cells.

The possible protective effects of virgin olive oil and Nigella sativa seeds on the biochemical and histopathological changes in pancreas of hyperlipidaemic rats.

Hyperlipidaemia is a risk factor for the development and progression of atherosclerosis and is linked to various diseases. This study was done to evaluate the possible protective effects of virgin olive oil and Nigella sativa seeds on the biochemical and histopathological changes which occurred in the pancreas of the rats. The study lasted 8 weeks and included 24 albino rats that were divided into four groups (6 rats each); Group I - control group, fed with normal standard diet, Group II - fed with high fat diet (HFD), Group III - fed with HFD and virgin olive oil, Group IV - fed with HFD and Nigella sativa seeds powder. After finishing the experiment, blood samples were collected and assessed for the lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, pancreatic amylase and insulin levels. Then, the rats were sacrificed and the pancreata were extracted and slices of them were processed for histological examination using haematoxylin stain and Masson's trichrome stain. Small fragments from the tail of the pancreata were extracted and processed for electron microscopic examination. The statistical analysis of the data using the appropriate statistical tests was also conducted. In the present study, the serum lipid profile in hyperlipidaemic rats was ameliorated in rats fed on high fat diet with virgin olive oil or Nigella sativa seed powder, which was reflected by a significant decrease in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides. Moreover, Nigella sativa decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), while virgin olive oil significantly increased HDL. Also a significant decrease in the serum levels of blood glucose and amylase and a significant increase in insulin levels were present in these groups. The histological and ultrastructural results revealed regeneration of the exocrine and endocrine parts of the pancreatic tissues from the hyperlipidaemic rats fed with virgin olive oil or Nigella sativa seeds. In this study, the biochemical results were paralleled to the histological and ultrastructural results; therefore, it could be concluded that virgin olive oil and Nigella sativa seeds had antihyperlipidaemic and hypoglycaemic effects and they could protect the pancreas from hyperlipidaemia-induced injury. Daily consumption of virgin olive oil and Nigella sativa seeds in the diet is highly recommended.