Biomaterial Database

Isolation of viable human pancreatic islets. 1977

J Ferguson, and R H Allsopp, and R M Taylor, and I D Johnston

This article reports a method for the isolation of viable pancreatic islets from the human pancreas. Isolated islets were obtained from human pancreata of cadavers, patients undergoing surgical operations, and fetuses, using a freehand microdissection procedure. Viability was assessed by light microscopy of sections stained with aldehyde fuchsin and by measuring the insulin output of islets in response to a glucose stimulus in vitro using a perifusion system. Ten pieces of cadaver pancreas were studied. Islets were isolated from 6 specimens and in 5 of these were shown to respond to a glucose stimulus in vitro. Histologically the islets showed minimal damage with slight degranulation of the beta cells. Five pieces of pancreas removed at operation were studied as well. Islets were isolated in all cases, but only 2 showed a response to a glucose stimulus. Pancreata from a 26-week and 34-week human fetus were also studied. It was not possible to microdissect islets from either case, but small pieces of pancreas from the 26-week fetus were shown to respond to a glucose stimulus by producing a significant increase in insulin output.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D007511	Ischemia	A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION.	Ischemias
D007515	Islets of Langerhans	Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN.	Islands of Langerhans,Islet Cells,Nesidioblasts,Pancreas, Endocrine,Pancreatic Islets,Cell, Islet,Cells, Islet,Endocrine Pancreas,Islet Cell,Islet, Pancreatic,Islets, Pancreatic,Langerhans Islands,Langerhans Islets,Nesidioblast,Pancreatic Islet
D008297	Male		Males
D008866	Microsurgery	The performance of surgical procedures with the aid of a microscope.
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002102	Cadaver	A dead body, usually a human body.	Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D004210	Dissection	The separation and isolation of tissues for surgical purposes, or for the analysis or study of their structures.	Dissections
D005260	Female		Females