title: Influence of cryopreservation on viability and nutritional microcirculation of islets of Langerhans.
abstract: Isolated pancreatic islets of Syrian golden hamsters were cryopreserved for 1 and 10 weeks, respectively. Following thawing islet mass was found more than 90%. Analysis of viability of these islets by dithizone staining revealed 94 +/- 4% (1 week cryopreservation) and 96 +/- 3% (10 weeks cryopreservation) positively stained islets. After implantation into dorsal skin-fold chambers of syngeneic animals, intravital fluorescence microscopy (5% FITC-dextran, i.v.) showed a regular microvascular network 10 days after implantation. The total diameter of the microvascular network was found similar in cryopreserved islets (day 10: 420.8 +/- 55.2 microns (1 week preservation) and 406.5 +/- 25.2 (10 weeks preservation)) as compared to non-preserved controls (day 10: 411.7 +/- 53.9 microns). Therefore we conclude that cryopreservation of hamster islet isografts for 1 and 10 weeks, respectively, does not alter viability as well as the potential for revascularization. Cryopreservation seems to be an adequate technique for long time storage prior to free transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Surgical Research, University of Munich, FRG.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Menger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pattenier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feifel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D006224:Cricetinae; D015925:Cryopreservation; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008833:Microcirculation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011336:Probability; D013997:Time Factors; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic