MICROSCOPIC CHANGES OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREAS IN THE LATE PERIOD AFTER EXPERIMENTAL THERMAL INJURY

Abstract

Summary. The problem of burns in Ukraine, especially nowadays, has become relevant. Therefore, studies of microscopic changes in the pancreas give possibility to establish the effect of thermal burns on the human body.

The aim of the study – to establish the features of the structural alteration of the exocrine pancreas components in the late period after the experimental thermal trauma of the skin.

Materials and Methods. The experiment was carried out on 20 adult white rats. Third-degree burns (20 % of the body surface) were applied with copper plates heated in water at a temperature of 97–100° C on the epilated surface of the skin of the animals’ back after thiopental-sodium anesthesia. Animal decapitation was performed on day 14 and 21 of the experiment. Small pieces of pancreas were taken for histological studies and processed according to the conventional method.

Results. Studies have shown that on days 14–21 there were areas of atrophy in the parenchyma of the exocrine part of the organ. Visually, the area of ​​acini and pancreatocytes decreased. Among the few slightly altered terminal secretory portions, groups of cells with characteristic signs of pancreatocyte destruction were observed: loss of apical eosinophilia and basal basophilia of the cytoplasm, pyknosis of nuclei and their eccentric location. There were signs of karyorhexis of individual nuclei. Plasmolemma of exocrine cells were indistinct, in their cytoplasm the content of zymogenic granules markedly decreased. The vessels were significantly dilated and blood-filled, with stasis and hemorrhage in some places.

Conclusions. Thus, in the late period of the experiment after thermal injury significant changes in the structural organization of the exocrine part of the gland were revealed. There were irreversible destructive changes in exocrinocytes, which reduced the functional activity of the gland.