Alterations in pancreatic structure and function in the copper-deficient rat
- VA Medical Center, Allen Park, MI (USA)
The present study examines biochemical and morphological changes of the exocrine pancreas in nutritional Cu deficiency. Groups of rats were fed a diet either deficient or sufficient (6.2 ppm) in Cu for 6 wk. Cu deficiency resulted in distinct ultrastructural changes in acinar cells marked by variability in zymogen granule content and the presence of autophagic vacuoles and cell debris. Fusion of zymogen granules with these vacuoles was also observed. In dispersed pancreatic acini isolated from Cu-deficient rats, secretion of trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen and amylase was significantly lower than in control acini following stimulation by CCK-8 (100 pM), secretin (1 {mu}M) or carbachol (7.5 {mu}M). Further investigation did not suggest that Cu deficiency affected CCK-8 binding to receptors in pancreas. Basal enzyme release was not affected by Cu deficiency. These data further support our observations that a marginal Cu deficiency affects exocrine pancreatic structure and its responsiveness to physiological secretagogues.
- OSTI ID:
- 6832870
- Journal Information:
- FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (USA), Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0892-6638
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COPPER
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PANCREAS
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
DIET
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
RATS
ANIMALS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FUNCTIONS
GLANDS
KINETICS
MAMMALS
METALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANS
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology