title: Immunocytochemical study of pancreatic islet revascularization in islet isograft. Effect of hyperglycemia of the recipient and of in vitro culture of islets.
abstract: We studied the revascularization process of isogeneic islets grafted into the kidney subcapsular space of streptozotocin-induced diabetic and nondiabetic rats by a double-labeling, indirect immunofluorescence technique using a rabbit antiserum to human factor VIII-related antigen (which identifies endothelial cells) and a guinea pig anti-insulin antiserum (which labels pancreatic beta cells). Freshly isolated islets contained a network of capillary endothelial cells, whereas 1-week-cultured islets at 37 degrees C have completely lost their intra-islet endothelial cells. Overnight cultured islets contained only occasional endothelial cells. When these islets were grafted under the kidney capsule of nondiabetic rats, they rapidly acquired a new endothelial cell lining as demonstrated by the positivity of staining for factor VIII-related antigen at day 5 after implantation. On the other hand, 1-week-cultured islets failed to become fully revascularized until day 7 after transplantation. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats grafted with 1000 islets normalized their blood glucose values (< 11 mM/L) 2-4 weeks after implantation, whereas transplantation of 2500-3000 islets resulted in normoglycemia after 4.7 +/- 2 days (mean +/- SD). Nevertheless, hyperglycemia of the recipient did not adversely affect the process of revascularization of islet isografts which initiated at day 3 and was almost completed by day 5 after implantation.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mendola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goity
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Alvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saenz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benarroch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cruz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000601:surgery; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000098:blood supply; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013997:Time Factors; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic