Quantitative data on the secretory granules in the normal mouse endocrine panreas. A morphometrical study using semi-automatic image analysis.

In order to obtain basic information on different morphometrical parameters a semi-automatic image-analysis of the secretory granules of the B-, A-, D- and PP-cells of the normal adult mouse endocrine pancreas was carried out. The following results were obtained: Cross sectional area of whole secretory granules: A greater than B greater than D greater than PP; cross sectional area of secretory granule cores: A greater than B; ratio of cross sectional area of whole secretory granules to secretory granule cores: 2.35 for B-cells and 1.74 for A-cells; maximum diameter of whole secretory granules: A greater than B greater than D greater than PP; maximum diameter of secretory granule cores A greater than B; form factor for whole secretory granules: A greater than B greater than D and PP; form factor for secretory granule cores: A greater than B. The findings show that the secretory granules of the parenchymal cells of the normal adult mouse endocrine pancreas differ from each other with respect to the size and form of both whole granules and cores.