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Acini and Centro-acinar Cells. The exocrine pancreas is a compound gland consisting of secretory endpieces (acini) draining into a converging duct system [5,17,30]. The acini, which are composed of cells that synthesise digestive enzymes and store them as zymogen granules, are found at the terminations of the intercalated ducts, but also, in some species, at intermediate points along the ducts, so that an acinus may surround an intercalated duct part way along its course. In most species, the individual cells form truncated pyramids so that, when they are aggregated to form a secretory endpiece, the endpiece is shaped like a berry (Latin: acinus) rather than being tubular [64]. Each acinus envelops a layer of intercalated duct cells which, in consequence, are often called centro-acinar cells, although there is no evidence to suggest that they differ morphologically or functionally from cells elsewhere in the intercalated ducts. Acinar cells make up 77%–90% of the total cell volume in the pancreas. |
