Kirkuk University Journal-Scientific Studies

Abstract

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 21- 70 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 18±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 .
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.