Changes in the morphology of the acinar cells of the rat pancreas in the oedematous and necrotic types of experimental acute pancreatitis

Limited experimental models of the oedematous and necrotic types of acute pancreatitis provide some understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease. Wistar rats were treated with cerulein at 10 mg/kg of body weight or with L-arginine at 1.5 or 3 g/kg of body weight in order to induce the oedematous or necrotic type of acute pancreatitis. After the induction period we examined samples of pancreata with light and electron microscopes. Morphological examination showed profound changes in the histology of the pancreas and its acinar cells and subcellular structures, especially in the group of rats which received a higher dose of L-arginine, amounting to 3 g/kg body weight. These included parenchymal haemorrhage and widespread acinar cell necrotic changes. 4-OH-TEMPO successfully prevented morphological deterioration as well as amylase release, suggesting that the severity of the two types of disease strongly depends on the intensity of the oxidative stress. Our results lend support to the assumption that reactive oxygen species play an axial role in the pathogenesis of both types of acute pancreatitis.

[Atypical case of bronchial carcinoid]

This article illustrates problems in diagnosis and treatment of an atypical form of bronchial carcinoid. We described the case of a 49-year old man, exposed to granite dust and noise for 25 years who had suffered from frequent bronchitis inflammations and pneumonias for 5 years prior to the diagnosis. He was admitted to our clinic because of supposed occupational nature of hearing deficiency. Although a pneumoconiosis was excluded before the admission, we found clinical and X-ray features of the right lung emphysema with medium restrictive ventilation disturbances. Bronchoscopy was performed because of "bright" right lung and ventilation disturbances and it showed presence of the carcinoid. Unusual in this case were tiny anamnestical findings (mild dyspnea attacks after physical effort or nervousness) plus increasing frequency of reported from the childhood bronchitis and pneumonias and uncharacteristic "bright" right lung in X-ray. Therapeutical difficulties resulted from atypical histological form of the tumor, its diameter, polypous-infiltrative character, and inconvenient localization. In spite of late diagnosis of carcinoid and significant acceleration of respiratory decompensation symptoms after the diagnosis the attempt of surgical therapy was appropriate but unsuccessful. After the operation the patient was suffering long lasting lowering of arterial pressure (what was corrected with catecholamine infusions) probably as a result of serotonin secretion. However it was not established because of technical reasons.