Pancreas, Endocrine - Degenerative Pathology

Aetiology

• Hypoplasia of panceatic islets where exocrine cells are functional
• Degeneration of the islet cells occurs in acute pancreatic necrosis along with acinar tissue necrosis, atrophy occurs during chronic interstitial pancreatitis
• Extensive neoplastic destruction may also contribute to islet loss
• Causes Diabetes mellitus (DM)
• In cats
  • Amyloidosis of the islets is sometimes observed and may be restricted to just them
    • May result in signs of DM or have no symptoms
    • Hydropic (vacuolar) degeneration of beta cells
    • Acumultion of glycogen within the cytoplasm
    • Develops in response to long-term overstimulation due to peripheral insulin resistance
• In dogs
  • Sclerosis of the islets is sometimes observed in dogs with DM without pancreatic necrosis but also in dogs without DM

For degeneration of exocrine tissue see 'degenerative disease of exocrine pancreas in Alimentary section'