title: The use of continuous density gradients for the assessment of islet and exocrine tissue densities and islet purification.
abstract: The purification of large numbers of human pancreatic islets remains one of the limiting factors in islet transplantation. This paper describes and validates a method for accurately and reproducibly determining the density of islets and exocrine tissue in pancreatic digest on the basis of their isopycnic distribution on linear continuous density gradients. The use of this data to analyse and compare the purity of a standard 60% islet yield is described. The results obtained using such gradients will enable factors responsible for the variation in yield between pancreases to be determined and optimized, improving the results and reliability of islet purification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chadwick
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: London
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
chemical_list: D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine