Acinar cell apoptosis and the origin of tubular complexes in caerulein-induced pancreatitis.

The interrelationship between acinar cell apoptosis and tubular complex formation was examined in caerulein-induced pancreatitis using histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and DNA gel electrophoresis. Rats were given 8 hourly subcutaneous injections of caerulein, 24 micrograms/kg, for up to 2 days. Morphologically and biochemically typical apoptosis affected 4.6 and 8.9% of acinar cells at 1 and 2 days, respectively, resulting in removal of most acinar cells by 2 days. Consequently, pancreatic ducts, the lining cells expressing bcl-2 and therefore resistant to apoptosis, became much more closely approximated to form the basis of tubular complexes; small numbers of immunohistochemically discrete acinar cells in their lining were either pre-apoptotic resistant to it or newly formed. Proliferation of duct-like lining cells was associated with apoptosis, an increase in islet cells and acinar cell regeneration. There was evidence of duct to acinar cell differentiation but the main increase in acinar cell numbers appeared to derive from proliferation of newly formed acinar cells.