Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of graft site on long-term survival of transplanted pancreatic islets in mice with diabetes. Methods Pancreatic islets of donor mice were obtained by infusion of collagenase P solution with pancreatic duct and Ficoll-400 density gradient centrifugation. Homeogenetic and allogenetic pancreatic islet transplantation into renal capsule, lesser omentum and armpit of recipient mice with diabetes was performed, and the values of blood glucose of recipient mice after transplantation were monitored. The transplanted pancreatic islet samples with rejection were selected according to the values of blood glucose, and the histological changes of transplanted pancreatic islets of different graft sites were observed. Results The pancreatic islets of mice were successfully isolated and purified, with the purification of (94±5)% or (90±5)% and survival of (92±3)%. The hyperglycemia state of recipient mice was reversed to normal range after pancreatic islet transplantation. As far as short-term survival of homeogenetic and allogenetic islet transplantation was concerned, there was no significant difference in the decreased value of blood glucose between renal capsule group and lesser omentum group (P>0.05), the value of blood glucose in renal capsule group was significantly lower than that in lesser omentum group after transplantation (P<0.05), and the decreased value of blood glucose and value of blood glucose in armpit group were significantly different from those in renal capsule group and lesser omentum group (P<0.05). As far as long-term survival of homeogenetic and allogenetic islet transplantation was concerned, there were significant differences in the decreased values of blood glucose between renal capsule group and lesser omentum group (P<0.05), with lower value of blood glucose and higher survival of transplanted pancreatic islet in renal capsule group, there was no case of long-term survival in armpit group, and there were significant differences in the decreased values of blood glucose in the same graft site between homeogenetic and allogenetic islet transplantation donors (P<0.05). Histological examination revealed that the pancreatic islets in renal capsule group and lesser omentum group were intact, with less inflammatory cell infiltration, while the pancreatic islet cells in armpit group were destroyed, with more inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion Pancreatic islet transplantation into renal capsule may produce fast and stable effect in decreasing blood glucose, and may achieve long-term survival, which can be used as an ideal site for pancreatic islet transplantation.

Key words: pancreatic islet transplantation, homeogenetic, allogenetic, survival, diabetes, mouse