Histomorphological study of the pancreas in hamster, guinea pig and rabbit

The pancreas contains both exocrine and endocrine components that secrete digestive enzymes and peptide hormones respectively. These two components are very different structurally and functionally but are intermingled within the gland. In the present study, the pancreases of 15 adult healthy animals (5 per each species) were used. After dissecting them, the pancreas of animals fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and then subjected to routine tissue processing for light microscopy. Different structures of the stroma and parenchyma of pancreas in hamster, guinea pig and rabbit were histomorphometrically studied using micrometrical method. All of parameters between three animals were analyzed and compared using ANOVA test. Results showed that the pancreas in three species was lobulated and compound tubulo-acinar gland having exocrine and endocrine portions. In the present study, the secretory acini of pancreas were oval or irregularly round and composed of 5 to 7 pyramidal cells arranged around a small central lumen. The mean percent of the islets of langerhans to the total pancreatic tissue in guinea pig (29.8 ± 16.04) was more than rabbit (9.55 ± 4.60) and hamster (10.8 ± 3.71). In hamster, diameter of islet was more than other animals. There was significant difference in diameter of islet of langerhans between animals (P<0.001). It was observed 191.30 µm, 41.56 µm and 54.60 µm in hamster, rabbit and guinea pig respectively.