Histological, Morphological and Sonographical Study of age related changes in Human Pancreas

Ageing stress induce an effect on each body cell causing degeneration and malfunction as consequence this appear in different investigation degree of views so this study was mad to investigate the anatomical, histological and sonographical changes during aging process in pancreas. The pancreas specimens were divided into five groups (four pancreas specimens ) according to cadaver age ranging from 2170 years, to five groups : group A (21-30 years), group B (31-40 years), group C (41-50 years) ,group D (51-60) and group E (61-70). The pancreas were inspected grossly for their shape and Location. The morphometrics of pancreas in the present study was 20.3±2.3 (cm) as a maximum mean length in group B and 15.6±0.9 (cm) as a minimum mean length in group E. The weight of pancreas in this study a maximum mean weight in group B was 122.41±0.27 (gm) and minimum mean weight in group E was 75.52±0.28(gm). Microscopically, pancreatic section showed that, the pancreas was covered by a thin fibrocollagenous connective tissue capsule from which septa extend into the gland dividing it into lobules. Nerves and blood vessels extended within the septa, the lobules contain exocrine tissue and endocrine tissue . Diameter of pancreatic acini ranged from 49±15 (μm) in head region of group B to 11±2 (μm) in the tail region of group E . The diameter of Islet of Langerhans ranged from 102±2 (μm) in head region of group B to 48±15(μm) in the tail region of group E, thickness of pancreatic septa in the head was 86±3 (μm) as a maximum value in group E and in the tail was 36±5 (μm) as a minimum value in group A . Kirkuk University Journal /Scientific Studies (KUJSS) Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2016 , p.p(104-113) ISSN 1992 – 0849 Web Site: www.kujss.com Email: kirkukjoursci@yahoo.com, kirkukjoursci@gmail.com 105 In addition, an ultrasonographic pancreas gland inspection were performed on forty volunteers who were similarly divided according to age into five groups (eight individuals for each), according to age, the ultrasound inspection concerned with length and width of gland . The results showed that the age have a reliable degeneration effect specially after 40 years old, other further investigation on different population and further tools help to show more details about age related changes.


INTRODUCTION
The name pancreas derives from the Greek roots 'pan' meaning 'all' and 'creas' meaning 'flesh' [1].The pancreas is a soft, elongated digestive gland which is grey-pink and 'featherlike' in appearance. It is approximately 15 cm in length, lobular and weighs about 80 g. It is retroperitoneal and extends transversely across the posterior abdominal wall from the curve of the duodenum to the hilum of the spleen, lies across the vertebral bodies of L1-L3. It is posterior to the stomach and the transverse mesocolon is attached to its anterior margin. It is located in the left hypochondriac and epigastric regions. The pancreas has four parts: a head with an uncinate process (from the Latin meaning 'hook'), a neck, a body and a tail [ Figure 1] [2].The pancreas is an important organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones to control blood glucose homeostasis, the pancreas is often described as two organs in one, due to the distinct function and organization of its endocrine and exocrine components [3][4][5]. The endocrine pancreas consists of functional units organized into cell clusters called islets of Langerhans where insulin-producing cells are found in the core and surrounded by glucagon-, somatostatin-, pancreatic polypeptide-, and ghrelin-producing cells [6].
Exocrine pancreas, the portion of the pancreas that makes and secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum. This includes acinar and duct cells with associated connective tissue, vessels, and nerves [7].

Materials and Methods
Twenty normal pancreas of adult male cadavers grouped into five groups A, B, C, D and E, including ten years in each group with ages ranging from 21 -70 years :- • Group (A): ranged from 21-30 years.

Cadavers grouped taken from forensic medicine department of Tikrit and Kirkuk Teaching
Hospital from both Salahddin and Kirkuk province during the period extended from December 2013 to June 2014, dissecting technique for abdominal approach was by using the procedure described by Patrick [8]. Gross measurements of the pancreas including weight and length were calculated in metric system by using electronic balance and ruler respectively, for histological study two procedures were used for evaluating morphometric criteria a conventional routine procedure using eosin and hematoxlin [9], and special stain procedure using Van Giesons staine [10], general histological view, number and diameter to the acini, Islets of langerhans and septa were described, counted and calculated respectively by using light microscope (Olympus) with micrometer type calibrated ocular lenses (Reichert®), Ultrasonographic examination was according to the name procedure [11], using ultrasonographic system (AlokaSSD500 -Japan) with a 3.5 -MHz curved -array transducer with a wide (11cm) contact surface.

Results
In the present study mean ±SD of total pancreatic gland anatomical weights and length were reach the maximum value in groups B   Fig. (2) and (3).
ultrasonographic investigation results was nearly similar to anatomical results Table (

Discussion
The weight of pancreas in this study as a total adult pancreatic weight agreed study done by caglar V. and Kumral B [12], in Turkish populations, in the present study a maximum mean weight in group B was 122.41±0.27 (gm) and minimum mean weight in group E was 75.52±0.28(gm), in Turkish study the mean weight of pancreas was 87.3 ± 30.6 (gm) for ages ranged from 25-88 years old. The length of pancreas in the present study was 20.3±2.3 (cm) as a maximum mean length in group B and 15.6±0.9 (cm) as a minimum mean length in group E this result agreed with Nayak and Mun yooi [13] who showed that the pancreas length ranged from 15-20 (cm).Sulochanae S and Sivakami T [14] , showed that the mean length of  [15].
The size of islet depend on circumstances of islet growth and growing of islets regulated by several factors physical constraints one of them such as the minimal size required for stable cell-to-cell coupling and the upper limit to keep the ratios between cell types [16], functional properties is another factor control islet sizes [17].
Sonographic appearance of pancreas including ghomogeneity, color and echoes texture with smooth contours support the normality of the pancreas, these findings agree with what is suggested to shown in pancreas free of diseases. The available data suggest that there are effects of age and adiposity on pancreas volume ,anatomical studies report decreased pancreas volume with aging in humans and histological studies report atrophy, fibrosis, and fatty infiltration of the pancreas in the aging population [18].