Question

Can the pancreas regenerate itself?

Answer 1

Regeneration

1. It is the natural process of repairing and replacing damaged cells in the tissues.
2. Humans have some extent of regeneration capabilities after the tissue had suffered any physical trauma.
3. The liver shows the highest degree of regeneration in humans.

Pancreas

1. The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen that plays a major role in the process of digestion and helps in maintaining blood sugar levels.
2. It comprises two parts, one exocrine gland and one endocrine gland.
3. The exocrine gland of the pancreas is made of exocrine cells that secrete digestive enzymes like trypsin, amylase, lipase, etc.
4. The endocrine part of the gland has clusters of cells called islets of Langerhans that have three types of cells- Alpha cells secrete glucagon, Beta cells that secrete insulin and Delta cells that secrete hormone somatostatin.
5. The pancreas can regenerate itself but to a limited extent.
6. The pancreatic cells in the exocrine gland can readily regenerate both in animals and humans.
7. But this regeneration is limited to a certain degree of damage beyond which it is unable to repair itself.
8. This limited regeneration capacity of the organs declines with age.