Preservation of morphology, insulin biosynthesis, and insulin release in cryopreserved human fetal pancreas.
Human fetal pancreatic glands were obtained from 12 consecutive prostaglandin-induced abortions. Explants cultured for 1 day were frozen at 0.3 degree C/min in a 1 M DMSO-containing medium and stored at -196 degrees C. After storage for 3-4 mo the frozen material was rapidly thawed and cultured 1 day before being tested for functional performance. There was a positive correlation between the pancreatic insulin content and the fetal crown-heel length. Seven of the twelve fetuses showed a marked insulin response to an acute glucose-theophylline challenge. In five of these pancreases there was a well-preserved morphology after thawing, whereas only one of the nonresponding preparations showed a satisfactory morphology. Pancreatic explants from three of four fetuses tested displayed evidences of an (pro)insulin biosynthesis. The combined results indicated that low-temperature storage of human fetal endocrine pancreas is compatible with specific functional survival.
D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*
D007328:Insulin; D011384:Proinsulin