Demonstration of expanding cell populations in mouse pancreatic acini and islets.

The acinar and islet cells of the adult mouse pancreas were examined by radioautography after continuous infusion of 3H-thymidine, for periods varying from 1 to 60 days, to determine whether they behaved like renewing or expanding cell populations. The labeling of both cell types increased with the duration of the continuous infusion and reached 2.22% and 12.0%, respectively, after 60 days. The rate of acinar and islet cell labeling was estimated from the regression line of the labeling index versus time and given as 0.039% and 0.20% cells per day, respectively. The rate of cell labeling was relatively low in these acinar and islet cells in comparison to the relatively high rate in duct cells. Occasionally, acinar cell labeling was not uniform, showing high labeling in the outer peripheral region of a lobe and at the periphery of the islets. Both acinar and islet cells increased in number in the adult, and at a rate indicating they are expanding cell populations. Their doubling times were estimated as 2,564 days (7.0 years) and 500 days (1.3 years), respectively. Duct epithelial cell populations were dividing at a rate indicating that they are renewing cell populations.