CHRONIC PANCREATIC INJURIES EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED IN DOGS BY CHRONIC BLOCKADE OF PANCREATIC LYMPHATICS

Abstract

Pancreatic histology and exocrine function were examined in mongrel dogs experimentally undergone blockade of pancreatic lymphatics over 50 to 100 days. Pancreatic histology revealed slight fibrosis without pancreatic parenchymal necrosis and also dilated lymph vessels with formation of oil cyst. Intraductal injection of sodium deoxycholate (DOC) resulted in loss of acini with marked fibrosis in the pancreatic head, body, and uncus, which were similar to the histology of human chronic pancreatitis. The area of those pancreatic lesions by DOC injection were extended further to the tail of the pancreas when pancreatic lymph flow was chronically blocked in addition. Experimentally produced pancreatic fibrosis was followed by the impairment of pancreatic exocrine function. These results suggest that pancreatic lymphatic blockade plays a promoting role in the progression of pancreatic lesions.