Pancreatic cell proliferation in normal rats studied by in vivo autoradiography with 3H-thymidine.

In vivo 3H-Thymidine autoradiographic investigations of DNA synthesis in acinar, islet and duct cells in the pancreas of normal rats showed that activity was dependent on age. The proliferation of acinar and islet cells, which was high in young animals, decreased exponentially with age; proliferation of the ductal cells on the other hand, increased until the animals became mature. These findings suggest that the physiological regeneration of acinar and islet cells, as well as their replacement after injury in adult animals commences from pancreatic ducts.