Exocrine pancreas under experimental conditions. IV. Alterations of intercellular junctions between acinar cells following pancreatic duct ligation.

Exocrine pancreatic tissue was investigated during various intervals after pancreatic duct ligation. Concomitant to the increase of the intraluminal pressure, alterations are found in the arrangement of the luminal membrane surface and the zonulae occludentes of the acinar cells. The zonulae occludentes exhibit a disarrangement of their strands. The number of strands diminishes and small interruptions as well as large discontinuities of the strands are observed in most regions of the acinar cells. Furthermore, gap junctions are found very infrequently between acinar cells. The ultrastructural alterations of the zonulae occludentes suggest a gradual adaptation to the increasing unilateral pressure. However, a leakage of the paracellular permeability barrier occurs which contributes to the known shunt between the compartments of the pancreatic juice and the interstitial space following pancreatic duct obstruction. The present investigation is a further example of alterations in the paracellular permeability and intercellular communication of epithelial cells under pathological conditions.