Effect of experimentally induced Chronic Pancreatitis on the Hepatocytes and duodenal mucosa in adult male albino rats. A histological Study

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis is a serious disease and can lead to many complications. It is hard to diagnose patients with chronic pancreatitis because of the variable clinical presentations that range from vague abdominal pain, mildly elevated or normal serum amylase, elevated serum hepatic transaminases. Or absence of signs and symptoms till 90% of the pancreas had been lost. This eventually leads to chronic diarrhea; malabsorption, malnutrition and weight loss. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the experimentally induced chronic pancreatitis on the histological structure of hepatocytes and duodenal mucosa in adult male albino rats. The experiment was conducted on 30 adult male albino rats with an average weight range from 200 to 250 grams. They were divided into two groups. Group I: Control group: This group included 10 rats that received five intraperotineal injections of saline at three days intervals. It was sub divided into two sub groups: rats in group Ia were sacrificed 30 days after the first saline injection. While rats in group Ib that were sacrificed after 60 days from the first injection. Group II: Group of chronic pancreatitis: This group included 20 rats that were injected five times at three days intervals by freshly prepared L-Arginine solution at a dose of 500 mg/ 100 gm body weight to induce chronic pancreatitis. Then the rats were sub divided into two sub groups: group IIa and group IIb, each groups included 10 rats that were scarified 30 days and 60 days after the first L-arginine injection respectively. At the end of the experiment blood samples were collected to measure random blood sugar, serum AST and ALT. Laparotomy was performed to collect the pancrease, liver and duodenum. Random blood sugar in Group IIa and group IIb showed a non significant change compared to the control group. While serum AST and ALT in group IIa and IIb showed a significant (P<0.05) increase compared to control group. The pancreas was processed for light microscopic examination to prove the occurrence of chronic pancreatitis. Examination of the pancreas after 30 and 60 days from the first injection of arginine (group IIa, IIb), showed progressive replacement of pancreatic acini by fat cells while the ducts and the islets of langerhans were not affected. The liver was subjected to light microscopic study, transmission electron microscopic study, morphometric and statistical analysis. The liver of group IIa, 30 days after initial injection of arginine, showed vacuolated hepatocytes at the periphery of classic hepatic lobule. Extension of the lesions was noticed in group IIb, 60 days after initial injection of arginine, where highly vacuolated hepatocytes were noticed in most of the classic hepatic lobule. Degeneration was also noticed in cells around the central vein. By transmission electron microscopic examination there were multiple fat droplets. Grading and scoring of the histological alteration of the hepatocytes revealed vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes in group IIa that were more pronounced in group IIb.