I'm studying some cases of infectious pancreatitis and I would like to study the two histologically and functionally distinct components: the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas. Can you tell me if there is any specific staining for the acinar cells and for the pancreas islets?
For islets, any neuroendocrine marker (Synaptophysin, ChromograninA, CD56). For Acinar cells, special stain may be easier than IHC, PAS stain will highlight the granules
Basic H& E will allow you to distinguish very easily. One is pink and no granules (islets) and acinar have a different shape (triangular) and purple granules and more darkly stained.
I agree with Susan that H&E stained sections would be the best to start with. If this is difficult, e.g., because of severe inflammation disrupting tissue architecture, chromogranin immunohistochemistry will highlight islets. Everything else should be exocrine pancreas.
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