Abstract
Histological observations to determine physical condition were performed on some organs of a young female harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, stranded on the beach at Nishiyama-machi, Niigata Prefecture, Sea of Japan. Most of the hepatic cells appeared normal, although some areas of fatty liver, heavy hemorrhaging and necrotic tissue were detected. The exocrine pancreas consisted of acini comprising granular(＝zymogen) acinar cells and a centroacinar cell. On the other hand, the endocrine pancreas (islets of Langerhans) were composed of 3 types of endocrine cells, A-(glucagon producing), B-(insulin producing) and a few D (somatostatin producing) cells. The cortical region of the spleen appeared normal, with healthy lymphocytes, while the medullary region contained numerous macrophages. Considerable pigment (lipofuscins)were apparent in the macrophages, but no plasma cells were encountered. No kidney abnormalities were observed in the distal and collecting tubule cells, and most of the glomeruli, although a few of the latter had collapsed. Noticeably, several epithelial portions of the urinary bladder were in an early papillomatous phase. All of the lung alveolar cells had collapsed due to stranding, although the peripheral region (cartilagenous rings supporting the bronchi)was unchanged. A longitudinal section of anastomosed cardiac muscle fibers revealed intercalated discs, while in a cross (transverse) section Cohnheim fields were detected.
https://ror.org/04ww21r56 
