ISLET CELL CULTURES AS COMPONENT OF TISSUE-ENGINEERING CONSTRUCT OF PANCREAS

Abstract

Aim: to develop methods for obtaining islet cell cultures for the purpose of their further use as a suitable component of the pancreatic tissue engineered construct. As a source of islet cell cultures, pancreas of newborn rabbits was used as an accessible and well-studied donor model.Materials and methods. For the obtaining of islet cell cultures, pancreas of 1–3-day-old newborn rabbits were used. Changes occurring during the cultivation of pancreatic tissue were recorded using an inverted microscope and a biostation. Morphological analysis of culture samples was carried out using histological and specifi c immunohistochemical methods. The insulin-producing activity of the cultures was determined by enzyme immunoassay.Results. Three main types of cultures were obtained: isletlike organotypic, suspensionalcytotypic, and monolayered, consisting of progenitor cells. Greater morphological safety and adequate insulin-producing ability was revealed in fl oating islet-like cultures. Conclusion. According to their morphofunctional properties, fl otation islet-like cultures obtained from pancreas of the newborn rabbits can be used as basal cell component of the experimental model of the tissue engineered construct of the pancreas.

Keywords

• pancreas of newborn rabbits
• culture of islet cells
• morphological studies
• insulin secretion
• tissue engineering construct