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The distribution of porcine pancreatic beta‐cells at ages 5, 12 and 24 weeks
Author(s) -
KA TR Jay,
Carless NJ,
Downing R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3089.1999.00009.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , pancreas , islet , glucagon , transplantation , medicine , enteroendocrine cell , endocrinology , pancreatic polypeptide , endocrine system , biology , andrology , insulin , hormone
Jay TR, Heald KA, Carless NJ, Topham DE, Downing R. The distribution of porcine pancreatic beta‐cells at ages 5, 12 and 24 weeks. Xenotransplantation 1999; 6: 131‐140. ©Munksgaard, Copenhagen Islet transplantation is a potential treatment for diabetes mellitus and porcine pancreata may provide a readily available source of islets. The size, number and distribution of islets within the pancreas may influence the choice of age of donor for xenotransplantation. Samples (n = 3 per age group) from the dorsal and ventral pancreas of 5‐, 12‐ and 24‐week‐old hybrid pigs were fixed in formal saline, processed in paraffin wax and stained with an avidin/biotin immunohistochemical kit for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide. The arrangement of endocrine cells within the pancreata were studied and mean diameter of β‐cell groups were measured (from insulin stained sections) in 1 mm 2 grid areas (n = 10 per section) and collated into groups according to size. Percentage volume density of β‐cells in relation to the whole pancreas was calculated and also the distribution of β‐cell groups, according to their size, within the total β‐cell mass. There were differences in the frequency and arrangement of endocrine cells within islets at the different ages studied. β‐Cell groups < 50 µm in diameter occupied 70 to 80% of the total β‐cell mass at 5 weeks but, as the age of the pig increased, larger cell groups were more abundant. However, the percentage volume density of β‐cells within the total pancreas did not change as the pancreas matured.This study shows that the endocrine porcine pancreas was maturing and its structure changed between the ages of 5 and 24 weeks. The relevance of these findings may have implications on the isolation and function of islets if young pigs are to be used as donors for transplantation as a treatment for diabetes mellitus.