Fig 9. 93W4600, Pancreas (sec.) H&E.
Pancreatic acini (PA) are made up of irregular clusters of
pyramid-shaped secretory cells. The apices of secretory cells
surround a minute central lumen (the intercalated duct, I)
which represents the terminal end of the duct system. The
intercalated ducts are lined by simple low cuboidal epithelium
and drain into small intralobular ducts (IaD). The centres of the
acini frequently contain one or more nuclei of centroacinar
cells (C) with pale nuclei and sparse pale-stained cytoplasm;
these represent the terminal lining cells of intercalated ducts
actually. The acinar cells are typical protein-secreting cells.
The nuclei are basally located and surrounded by basophilic
cytoplasm crammed with rough endoplasmic reticulum; the
apices of the cells are packed with eosinophilic zymogen
secretory granules.