Differentiation of pancreatic endocrine islets in buffalo fetus

Abstract

Pancreas of 24 buffalo foetii collected from abattoir and veterinary clinics, GADVASU, Ludhiana were studied. The buffalo foetii were divided into three groups after measuring their CVRL, viz. Group I (CVRL between 0–20 cm), Group II (CVRL above 20 cm and up to 40 cm) and Group III (CVRL above 40 cm) and their approximate age was calculated. The tissues were processed and paraffin sections were cut and stained with different histological stains. In Group I, at 7.5 cm CVRL (62 days), the endocrine cells were scattered either in between the developing acinar cells and primitive tubules or were localized within primitive tubules. The alpha cells were large, round or oval in shape having eosinophilic cytoplasm and large nucleus whereas beta cells were small basophilic cells. At 12.8 cm CVRL (86 days), small groups of cells were present containing purely alpha cells or purely beta cells. Well developed islets of Langerhans with ill-defined capsule were observed at 19 cm CVRL (114 days). At 10.7 cm CVRL (77 days), certain cells which were morphologically different from cells of islets of Langerhans and acinar cells started to assemble and many capillaries were invading these cells. At 12.8 cm CVRL (86 days), these assembled cells formed well developed islets called perilobular islets. These large sized islets were developing at the periphery of lobules. The perilobular islets underwent regressive changes whereas islet of Langerhans increased in number simultaneously.