title: Pancreatic islets from non-heart-beating donor pig: two-layer preservation method in an in vitro porcine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pancreata from non-heart beating donors could represent an unlimited source of islets if their cell viability can be efficiently preserved during the time necessary to process the organs by the use of a better solution of preservation compared to the classic University of Wisconsin solution. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to obtain functioning "alive islets" from non-heart-beating donors by comparing, on a porcine model, the classic "UW ice-store" method with a two-layer cold storage method (TLM) using oxygenated Perfluorocarbons (PFC) and UW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole pancreata were harvested from 20 NHBDs female pigs with similar characteristics and preserved for 4 h in UW solution (n = 10) or TLM (UW/PFC) solution (n=10). The isolated islets were then evaluated for number, viability, purity, and insulin secretion, also estimated after 8 weeks of cryopreservation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of islets obtained from isolation, and their function assayed by the insulin stimulation index, before and after cryopreservation, showed a higher value in the TLM group. No significative differences in terms of purity and viability before and after cryopreservation were found when comparing the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLM solution for NHBDs porcine pancreata with cold ischemia time lower than 4 h offers significant advantages over UW solution storage, thereby increasing the isolation yield and isolation success rate of the pancreatic porcine islets.
authors: University of Palermo, School of Medicine-School of Medical Biotechnologies and Molecular Biology, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Maria Concetta
authors: MC
authors: Gioviale
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Damiano
authors: Vincenzo Davide
authors: VD
authors: Palumbo
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Bellavia
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cacciabaudo
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Cassata
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Puleio
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Altomare
authors: Attilio Ignazio
authors: AI
authors: Lo Monte
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D050377:Cold Ischemia; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011887:Raffinose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D007328:Insulin; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C055206:University of Wisconsin-lactobionate solution; D000493:Allopurinol; D005978:Glutathione; D000241:Adenosine; D011887:Raffinose; D010100:Oxygen