Rat Islet Isolation and Allogeneic Transplantation

Objective: To develop a reliable method for isolating and purifying rat pancreatic islets and to observe the characteristics of the purified islets in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The rat pancreaes were infused in situ by the injection of collagnase solution into the pancreatic duct and digest for 30 min at 37℃. Then islets were purified by filtration through cell strainer. The islets were transplanted under the kidney capsule of 5 STZ-induced diabetic rats. The blood glucose and insulin secretion of grafts were observed. Results: The crude islet yields were 1 024 ± 156 per pancreas. After being purified by filtration, the islet yields were 867 ± 104 per pancreaes. Five diabetic rats became normoglycemic for 1 to 3 days after transplantation. The survival period of transplanted islets was (6. 60±2. 07)days. The normalization of the glycemia in the transplanted rats was associated with normal glucose profiles in response to oral glucose tolerance tests. Conclusion: This study identifies the procedure of islet isolation and purification is simple and effective. The islet function was integrity by in vitro and in vivo. But prevention of rejection of islet allograft, such as employment of a bioartificial capsules and immune tolerance, must be further studied in the future.