Early morphological changes after total gastrectomy in the rat pancreas

Abstract

Total gastrectomy is widely used as a major surgical treatment for gastric cancer. The aims of this study were to investigate the possible effects of total gastrectomy on pancreas morphology, and to determine the immunolocalisation of chromogranin A (Cg A) and synaptophysin (SYP) antigens, described as specific tumour markers for neuroendocrine tumours. Ten rats underwent total gastrectomy via oesophago-cluodenostomy. After a month the rats were killed, and tissue samples were taken from the pancreas, processed for light microscopy and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. In addition, 5-7 mu m thick paraffin embedded tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained with Cg A and SYP. The acinar cells showed abundant cytoplasm which contained numerous zymogen granules in the experimental group animals in comparison with the control group. The islets of Langerhans showed significant hyperplasia postoperatively when compared to the control group. Strong immunoreactivity for Cg A and SYP was seen in the islet cells. It may be suggested that total gastrectomy causes adverse morphological changes in the pancreas. Strong Cg A and SYP immunoreactivities may be a relevant marker for pancreatic cancers in the early postoperative period after total gastrectomy.