Chapter 10 – Exocrine Pancreas

In routine toxicological and carcinogenicity studies, the pancreas of rats is infrequently a target organ for chemically related effects. However, the acinar cells of the pancreas contain the enzyme systems necessary for the metabolism of xenobiotics, and neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas can be induced by several types of chemicals. Secretion of pancreatic enzymes is regulated by several hormones that also have trophic effects on the acinar cells. In toxicological studies, the oral administration of chemicals has the potential to disturb the homeostatic mechanisms that regulate secretion. The prolonged release of trophic hormone that results can cause acinar cell hyperplasia and neoplasia.