Pancreatic Stellate Cells and Alcohol Induced Chronic Pancreatitis in Albino Rats: Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Introduction: Pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs) are myofibroblast-like cells found in the areas of pancreas that have exocrine function. Aim of the Work: The aim of the present work was to study the pancreatic stellate cells in the exocrine pancreas and to explain their role in pancreatic fibrosis associated with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into two groups; control and experimental. The experimental group was given alcohol by intragastric tube daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment the animals were sacrificed and the pancreatic tissue was taken, processed and semithin and paraffin sections were obtained. Paraffin sections were stained with H E, Mallory trichrome and immunohistochemical stains for detection of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in PaSCs. Results: Eight weeks after alcohol administration, the pancreatic tissue was traversed by thick connective tissue septa. The interlobular ducts were thickened, distorted and dilated. Some pancreatic acini were distorted, dilated and showed vacuolation and degeneration of their acinar cells. PaSCs were detected in three main sites like in control pancreas; periacinar, periductal and perivascular, but they showed an apparent increase in their number, decrease in their lipid droplets and transformtion into myofibroblast like cells with marked expression of α-SMA especially in the fibrotic areas. Conclusion: From the present work it was concluded that the cells which were detected seem to be the pancreatic stellate cells which could play an important role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis associated with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, understanding the biology of PaSCs may offers potential therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of these diseases.