A method for large-scale, high-yield isolation of canine pancreatic islets of Langerhans

Abstract

A modified collagenase digestion method is described for the isolation of large numbers of islets from the canine pancreas ( 3500 islets/g). The islets isolated by this technique remained viable and released insulin in response to secretagogues after one week of maintenance in tissue culture. Islets isolated from a single donor pancreas were re-implanted into the spleen of the same animal made diabetic by subtotal pancreatectomy and two injections of streptozotocin. Hyperglycemia was corrected in two dogs and decreased in a third dog followed for 30 days. The islet isolation method described, therefore, provides a sufficiently large yield of viable islets from one donor pancreas to correct or improve diabetes in a recipient animal. © 1982.