Brian Larsen, Graduate Student, Wellik Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School

This image depicts part of a developing mouse pancreas. The pancreas is composed of an extensive ductal network as well as a small proportion of cells that secrete hormones such as insulin and glucagon (the hormone-secreting cells are not shown here). The red stain outlines acinar cells that secrete digestive enzymes into a richly anastomosing network of ducts (green). This pancreatic "juice" is finally emptied into the intestine to aid digestion. Images such as this can be used to examine pancreas morphology to detect defects in duct formation and branching in mice with genetic mutations.