Modifications of "A cells" in the development of experimentally induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study.

In the hamster-BOP model, modifications occur in the endocrine portion of the pancreas during the induction of well-differentiated ductal carcinomas. In the present work, using immunohistochemical techniques it was possible to observe that the A cells in preserved islets and in the initial phase of the carcinogenic process were localized in the peripheral part of the islets. In animals with tumours, A cells were found to form part of the tumour glands and/or the tumoral stroma; this localization was seen to depend on the developmental phase of the tumour. A focal dispersion of A cells was observed in the animals with ductal carcinoma.