Endocrine Pancreas Pathology

Question 1

Where do the endocrine cells secrete enzymes?

Answer 1

They secrete enzymes into the pancreatic duct

Question 1

Where do Islet cells secrete hormones?

Answer 1

They secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

Question 2

What are pancreatic islets?

Answer 2

Masses of endocrine tissue embedded within exocrine tissue of the pancreas

Question 3

What is Nesidioblastosis?

Answer 3

Non-neoplastic proliferation of islet and ductular tissue -> typically an incidental finding

Question 4

What is an insulinoma?

Answer 4

common neoplasm in the endocrine pancreas

Question 5

What two hormones are trophic for acinar tissue?

Answer 5

• Insulin
• Pancreatic polypeptide

Question 6

What two hormones are inhibitory?

Answer 6

• Somatostatin
  *Glucagon

Question 7

What is the function of the exocrine cells?

Answer 7

• Secrete enzymes directly into the pancreatic duct

Question 8

What is the paracrine effects of the molecules facilitated by?

Answer 8

• insulo-acinar portal circulatory system where different afferent vessels predominantly flow through the islets before supplying the exocrine tissue

Question 9

How can you easily identify/ study the major hormone producing islet cells?

Answer 9

Immunohistochemistry

Question 10

What is the hormone size and function of glucagon?

Answer 10

• Acts on several tissues to make energy stored in glycogen and fat available through glycogenolysis and lipolysis-> increases the blood glucose content
• polypeptide 3500 Da

Question 11

What is the hormone size and function of insulin?

Answer 11

• Dimer of and chains with S-S bridges, 5700-6000 Da
• Acts on several tissues to cause entry of glucose into cells and promotes decrease of blood glucose content

Question 11

What is the hormone size and function of somatostatin?

Answer 11

• Inhibits the release of other islet cell hormones through local paracrine action- inhibits the release of GH and TSH in the anterior pituitary and HCL secretion by gastric parietal

Question 12

What is the size and function of pancreatic polypeptide?

Answer 12

• 4200 Da
• Stimualtes the activity of gastric chief cells, inhibits bile secretion, pancreatic enzyme and bicarbonate secretion and intestinal mobility

Question 13

What are the four classic clinical signs of diabetes?

Answer 13

• Polyuria
• Polydipsia
• Polyphagia
• Weight loss

Question 14

When do the clinical signs of Dm show?

Answer 14

• Hyperglycaemai reaches a concentration that results in glycosuria
• typically a blood glucose concentration of 180-220 mg/dl in dogs and 220-270 mg/dl in cats

Question 15

What are the typical treatment options for DM?

Answer 15

• Insulin injections
• Dietary modifications
• Correction of obesity
• Exercise in dogs
• Oral hypoglycaemic medications in cats

Question 16

What is the most common/ recognised form of DM in the dog?

Answer 16

• Resembles type 1
• charcterised by permanent hypoinsulinaemia

Question 17

What is the most common form of DM in cats?

Answer 17

• Type II
• Impaired insulin actions and b-cell failure
• environmental and genetic

Question 18

What are the risk factors for DM in cats?

Answer 18

• Obesity
• Males have a higher risk than females
• physical activity
• indoor confinement
• administration of glucocorticoids and progestins