Islet cell transplantation: important factors contributing to optimal pancreatic function.

This study investigates four factors which are of utmost importance in contributing to optimal function of pancreatic tissue fragment allo transplants. Those being: viability of donor tissue, optimal weight of pancreatic tissue fragments, method of allograft preparation, and site of implantation. Seven groups of unrelated mongrel dogs underwent total pancreatectomy before being randomly assigned to one of the follo wing experimental groups. Group I (n = 10) anmimales were transplanted with >0.75 g/kg of viable, pancreatic tissue fragments, whereas those in Group II (n = 6) received 0.75 g/kg of viable, collagenase-frww pancreatic tissue fragments, and mean survical was noted to be 3.1 n 1.2 days (M n SD). Recipients in Group IV (n = 5) received >0.75 g/kg of nonviable pancreatic tissue pieces prepared without collagenase in the renal subcapasular space, resulting in a mean survical of 2.8 n 0.9 days (M n SD). Group V (n = 6) animals survived a mean of 20 n 18 days (M n SD) when transplanted with >0.75 g/kg of viable pancreatic tissue fragments prepared with collagenase, in the renal subcapsular space. Animals in Group VI (n = 6) were injected intrasplenically with 0.75 g/kg were prepared with collagenase and administered to Group VII (n = 6) animals, who survived a mean of 7.7 n 4.6 days (M n SD). Animals in groups I-VII were given 2.5 mg/kg/day of azathioprine post-transplant, until death... (AU)