Pancreatic atrophy in copper-deficient rats: histochemical and ultrastructural evidence of a selective effect on acinar cells.

Copper deficiency had a differential effect between tissues in the rat pancreas. There was marked loss and atrophy of acinar cells, in which both hypertrophied and degenerating mitochondria were present. Cytochrome oxidase activity in acini was greatly depleted while monoamine oxidase activity was enhanced. Atrophy of acinar cells was accompanied by extensive degeneration of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and by a failure of zymogen granule synthesis. These changes contrasted strongly with the appearance of non-acinar tissues, in which hypertrophy and degeneration of mitochondria were rarely observed. Islet tissue, pancreatic ducts and blood vessels showed no atrophic changes. Cytochrome oxidase activity in islet tissue, and in the epithelium of the main pancreatic ducts, appeared unaffected.