ADULT HUMAN PANCREATIC-ISLET CELLS IN TISSUE-CULTURE - FUNCTION AND IMMUNOREACTIVITY

Abstract

In order to obtain an appropriate tissue model to study human diabetes we isolated islet cells from pancreata obtained from brain-dead, heart-beating kidney donor subjects by collagenase dispersion and tissue culture. The presence of viable islet cells was confirmed by both immunofluorescence staining and hormone release experiments. Insulin and somatostatin release were determined on culture day 3 or 4 when amylase measurements indicated an absence of functional exocrine cells. Glucose, alpha-ketoisocaproic acid, theophylline, glucagon, and tolbutamide each stimulated insulin release 2- to 3-fold and somatostatin release 1.5- to 2-fold. Epinephrine and somatostatin both inhibited glucose-st..