Histological and Histochemical Description of the Pancreas in the Adult Lesser Capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius)

The aim of this study was to describe histologically and histochemically the pancreas of three adult Hydrochoerus isthmius, attacked by feral dog in Buenavista, Córdoba, Colombia. A complete necropsy was performed and pancreatic fragments were collected and stored in 10% buffered formalin and Bouin liquid. Then, they were dehydrated, diaphanized and embedded in paraffin, stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin, P.A.S., Gomori trichrome, Grimelius and Masson Fontana modified. The H. isthmius pancreas presented a duodenal mesenteric pattern. The exocrine portion was described as a composite tubuloacinar gland. The endocrine portion of the pancreas was constituted by pancreatic islets of Langerhans and a diffuse neuroendocrine system. The histological and histochemical techniques used allowed us to identify the exocrine and endocrine portion of the organ. It is suggested to complement this study with some special techniques for the identification of specific endocrine cells, such as Beta, Alpha, Delta, Epsilon, PP or Gamma.