The effects of increased Waler salinity on the fine structure and acid phosphatase activity in frog pancreas (Rana temporaria L.).

Morphological alterations and AcPase activity in frog pancreas under the influence of high salinity water were investigated by electron microscopy. The 1% increase in the sodium chloride concentration of the water in which the animals were kept induced severe degranulation of all islet cell types and the stimulation of the autophagocytosis process. The latter was particularly obvious in the acinar cells, in which the occurrence of various morphological types of lysosomes was recorded. Other involutional changes in both endocrine and exocrine pancreas included lipid accumulation, mitochondria shrinkage, nuclear pycnosis and plasmalemma lysis. The ultrastructural modifications, mainly ascribed to the disturbance of the ionic balance of the body fluid, were accompanied by a general increase of the histochemically demonstrable AcPase activity. The enzyme was exclusively detected in lysosomes, GOLGI complex, and in different types of islet secretory granules. Several hypotheses concerning the functional significance of the enzym distribution are discussed.