Acta Biologica Tomus XXXIX. Fasciculi 1-4. [antikvár]

acta Biol. Szeged. 39. pp. 3-22. (1993) THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND CONSEQUENCES OF PANCREATIC EXOCRINE ENDVENTRICLES IN EXPERIMENTAL ENDOTOXIN SHOCK * S. Bende, sr. (pens.)+ and S. Bende, jr.+-i- + Teacher Training Faculty oJ'Eöt\'ös Lóránd University, H-1075 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 23-27., Hungary. ++Semmelweis Hospital Department of Surgery, H-3529 Miskolc, Csabaikapu u. 9-11., Hungary (Received: July 5, 1993) Abstract The investigations into the ultrastructural damage of tiie pancreas in endotoxin shock has so far escaped the attention of researchers. The authors demonstrate in the exocrin cells of the pancreas of dogs, treated of Escherichia coU O26 endotoxin, such ultrastructural alterations which caimot be observed in case of other organs, after being similarly treated and from which we can draw conclusions concerning the pathomechanism of shock, not made entirely clear until now. It is the most remarkable feature that in the celis no lysosomes resp. Formations referring to some lysosomatic activity are visible; at the same time, there arc large vesicles and therein myelin-figures, limited by the outer membrane of mitochondria, in the place of mitochondria. The degradation of mitochondria can, therefore, not be explained with the effect of lysosomal enzymes. The hypothesis of the authors is that the endotoxin getting into the pancreatic cells induces the DNA-RNA systems of the mitochondrium and, consequently, some autolytic ferments are formed and gradually dissolve the proteins of the inner membrane. And the rolledup lipid membranes are arranged into myelin-figures. It may be supposed that during the autolysis of mitochondria vasoactive resp. cell-damaging polypeptides are formed. These shock factors and membrane-toxins, getting into the blood stream, are responsible for the irreversible damage of the shocked organs. - On the basis of our results, the pancreas should be considered as a primary shock-organ. Key words: pancreas, exocrin ventricles, endotoxin shock, Escherichia coli, dog, lysosoma, mitochondrium, rayelin-figure. Introduction Shock is a complex insufficiency comprising the whole organism. From aetiological point of view, we differentiate between traumatic, haemorrhagic, cardiogenic, anaphylactic and toxic shocks. The endotoxic shocks, elicited by Gram-negative intestinal bacteria, fall within the latter group. This paper is dedicated to the centeimial aiuiiversaiy of Prof. Ambrus Abraham's biilh.