title: Different treatment regimens to reduce microbial contamination of purified porcine islets of Langerhans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different treatment regimens for minimizing microbial contamination of purified porcine islets were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purified islets, prepared from abattoir-excised pancreata (n=26), were cultured in Hams F-12 with or without antibiotics after islet isolation. Aliquots of pancreas transport media were all contaminated with microbes (100%). Of those islets cultured with no antibiotics, 70% were contaminated, compared with 42% of the islets cultured in penicillin and streptomycin (P/S) (P>0.05). A further 20 consecutive pancreata were then randomized to saline washing (N=10) before islet isolation. Islets were then cultured in either Hams F-12 with P/S (groups C and E) or Hams F-12 with gentamicin, penicillin, and amphotericin B (G/P/A) (groups D and F).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of those purified islets prepared from washed pancreata and then undergoing culture in Hams F-12 with G/P/A (group F) were contaminated. This compared with 30% contamination when islets were cultured in P/S (group E). Neither antibiotic regimen compromised stimulated insulin release (P=0.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion pancreas washing in saline and culture in G/P/A was shown to eradicate detectable microbial contamination of purified porcine islets isolated from abattoir-excised pancreata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Leicester, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: London
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004340:Drug Contamination; D007515:Islets of Langerhans; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000592:standards*; D013552:Swine