Isolation of functional glucagon islets of Langerhans from the chicken pancreas.
Two types of islets of Langerhans are present in the avian endocrine pancreas: glucagon islets (A-islets) and insulin islets (B-islets). Islets from the chicken pancreas were isolated by ductal injection of collagenase, enzymatic digestion, atraumatic dispersion of the digests at an appropriate time, and nylon mesh filtrations. A- and B-islets were identified by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunological quantification of insulin and glucagon. Dithizone-positive islets proved to be mostly of the A-type by immunostaining, and radioimmunological measurements: islets from the cranial half of the body of the pancreas were almost pure (95%) glucagon islets (0.454 +/- 0.027 pmol glucagon and 0.023 +/- 0.005 pmol insulin per islet). Increasing the glucose concentration in the incubation medium from 14 to 42 mM decreased glucagon release, demonstrating that the alpha-cells maintained their glucose sensitivity after isolation.
Ruffier
L
L
Station de Recherches Avicoles, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, F37380, France.
Simon
J
J
Rideau
N
N
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D002645:Chickens; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology*
D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D017364:Collagenases; D005947:Glucose