Pancreas: Current Research on Isolation or Production of Therapeutic Cells

The adult pancreas is an organ responsible for functions in our digestive system and endocrine system. The cells that together aid the digestive system are called the exocrine pancreas, and it is primarily composed of acinar and ductal cells. Acinar cells secrete a variety of digestive enzymes that help break down food and help in its absorption. Ductal cells are primarily responsible for aiding the transport of these digestive enzymes into the stomach, where the pancreas connects to the digestive tract. Acinar cells comprise the majority of the pancreas, accounting for 8 to 85 percent of the total cell number. Cells that contribute to the endocrine system are together known as the endocrine pancreas. These cells are arranged in grape like clusters called islets of ...